Julie Hesmondhalgh: Why I'll never be cast as a doctor

Julie Hesmondhalgh says her accent is the reason she will "never" be cast as a doctor or a lawyer.

The 52-year-old actress - who is best known for having starred as knicker stitcher Hayley Cropper on Manchester-based soap opera 'Coronation Street' from 1998 until 2014 - claimed that those who hail from working-class areas such as Liverpool or Birmingham are more likely to end up in roles such as a drug addict while those who use Received Pronunciation is still used to suggest a character has had a "good education."

She said: "Need someone to play a sex worker or a drug addict? Get a Scouser in! Someone thick as pigs***? Brummies, Bristolians - take your pick! Received pronunciation is still the go-to accent to indicate a good education!"

The National Television Award winner went on to add that because of her natural Lancashire accent, she will "never" be considered for a role of a professional such as a doctor or a lawyer although she has found herself being cast as a "respectable" working-lass character.

Writing in her new book 'An Actor's Alphabet', she added: "I've noticed my thick east Lancashire accent lends itself to being cast in toles from the 'respectable' working-class but rarely doctors or lawyers."

Speaking about her new book, Julie previously explained that she had "always loved" acting but believed that the idea of going into the arts felt like a "frivolous" career choice.

She said: "I always loved acting, but when it came to deciding about careers, I was so consumed with the idea of being of service to the world that to go into the arts felt frivolous to me. I had no sense that art could actually have a purpose beyond pure entertainment."