Vicky Myers is a rare gem and we are so lucky she is the one playing Lisa Swain. Our love for Vicky goes beyond the character she plays, so Georgie wanted to scribble down the reasons why!
Over the years it has always been a contentious issue, should only queer actors play queer roles? I have found myself on the fence of this argument, having fallen madly in love with the likes of Kate Connor and Sian Powers, yet also understanding that these roles are extremely important for representation, especially in the current climate. Over the last year I have chosen my position and that is down to one Vicky Myers.
It’s fair to say that in the last year the fandom have fully embraced Miss DS Lisa Swain, a character who had previously only appeared for short stints until the powers that be felt Vicky deserved and upgrade, for that we are grateful. Taking on an openly lesbian character is no mean feat, especially if you are going to fully embrace the role and the fan fair that comes with it. I am sure it would have been far easier for Vicky to simply play Lisa and leave her at work but she’s chosen not to, she has chosen to fully commit to what comes with such an important role. From engaging with fans online, to meeting them at the gates, and making fans go wild with her interviews (clearly Corrie know who to send out for promo), we have been blessed with someone who fully understands and appreciates who her fan base is. But a moment that really solidified that was her speech when receiving Celebrity Ally of the Year at the Diva Awards this year, something so heart felt, passionate and a reminder of how much Vicky truly puts in to this character.
We must remember that these actors have no real obligation give us ‘extra’, their job at the end of the day is to portray a character and then go home to their own lives. Anything more than that is blessing and a privilege, especially in a fandom that will pick apart any crumb (me included). Vicky handles this world with such heart and grace, acknowledges the power her storyline yields, and so much more. I mean she has even signed up to do a convention in September… you’d be hard pushed to find a soap star do this sort of thing whilst they are still on the show, but here we are and that is part of her magic.
It isn’t just how Vicky is with fans that makes her special, she is genuinely a fantastic actress, I mean how many people say they caused a social media storm by simply sneezing? She is also the sort of actress who can speak simply with her eyes, there could be no dialogue but Vicky still seems to tell a story, and then there is her ability to make you cry along with her. But it isn’t all just about the drama, she has also proven that her comedic timing is on point too, nobody is going to forget the infamous drunk scenes in the Rovers, I still rewatch that with so much joy. She has been just what the cobbles needed, the perfect blend of dramatic, comedic, police outfits, sweater vests and flirtation (we all know how she likes to relieve stress).
So thank you Vicky Myers for being the ally we needed, I hope you enjoy every theory we discuss online whilst knowing the answer, and thank you Coronation Street for realising she was the spark we were waiting for.
As a side note, it was clear so many people came to support Vicky at the British Soap Awards, and they were rewarded by how much time she spent with everyone. What a wonderful human being. She truly is a blessing.