Claire Sweeney has captivated Coronation Street viewers with her portrayal of Cassie Plummer,
a character whose increasingly manipulative and deceitful behavior has sent shockwaves through Weatherfield.
From drugging Ken Barlow (William Roache) to stealing from him, Cassie’s actions have left fans stunned.
However, despite the shocking nature of some of her character’s decisions,
Claire recently admitted that there was one particular aspect of Cassie’s personality that she struggled to understand—and surprisingly, it wasn’t the drugging.
Cassie’s Relationship with Ken Barlow
Over the past few months, Cassie’s interactions with Ken have become more concerning, with her secretly slipping antihistamines into his tea to make him dependent on her. While this manipulation ultimately contributed to Ken’s health declining and even led to a heart attack, Claire insists that Cassie never intended for things to go that far.
The actress shared her thoughts on Cassie’s dynamic with Ken, explaining that it was built on genuine affection, albeit deeply flawed. According to Claire, Cassie saw Ken as someone who provided her with a new way of life. “It’s almost like a Pygmalion/My Fair Lady relationship,” she revealed, referencing the classic story in which a lower-class woman is transformed under the guidance of a well-spoken mentor.
Ken had introduced Cassie to things she had never experienced before—taking her to the opera, educating her on fine wines, and even bringing her on a trip to Portugal. Claire believes that, despite Cassie’s actions, there was a true bond between the two. “They actually laugh together, and they really, really care for each other,” she noted.
However, Cassie’s desire to keep Ken reliant on her ultimately led her down a dangerous path. When Ken expressed that he was regaining his independence, Cassie panicked and went into “survival mode.” Given her troubled past—one filled with neglect, hardship, and addiction—her actions stemmed from a fear of losing the only security she had found.
The One Trait Claire Struggled With
While Cassie’s actions towards Ken were extreme, Claire admitted that the hardest part of her character to understand was not the drugging but rather her tendency for petty theft.
“She can’t help herself,” Claire explained, acknowledging that Cassie’s background played a significant role in shaping this habit. Having come from a difficult life on the streets, she developed a survival instinct that included taking whatever she could get away with.
Throughout her time on the cobbles, Cassie has been caught stealing various small items, including a Ninja kitchen appliance, an air fryer, and a juicer. Rather than seeing it as a calculated crime, Claire believes Cassie’s behavior is almost compulsive. “If she was going to do it properly, she’d do it big-time—clear him out and give him stronger medicine,” Claire reasoned. “But it’s just the petty stuff.”
One particularly clever moment came when Cassie tricked Tracy Barlow into believing she had lost her hair straighteners, only to turn around and sell them. Her ability to pull off these minor scams shows a side of Cassie that, while mischievous, also demonstrates her street smarts.
For Claire, this was the aspect of Cassie’s personality that she found hardest to relate to. While she could understand the emotional reasoning behind drugging Ken—misguided as it was—the stealing seemed to come from a place of habit rather than necessity.
Finding Humor in Cassie’s Transformation
Despite Cassie’s morally questionable actions, Claire has found some enjoyment in portraying the character, especially in the way her newfound wealth has influenced her appearance.
Having access to Ken’s money allowed Cassie to indulge in a few luxuries, something Claire found amusing. “Suddenly she’s got the nails,” she joked. “As Claire, I love the fact that she was allowed to have a French manicure and wear a bit of mascara.”
While Cassie’s manipulative streak has made her one of the more controversial figures on Coronation Street, Claire has embraced the challenge of playing such a complex character. She acknowledges that Cassie’s past experiences have shaped her into a survivor, but she also recognizes the deeply flawed ways in which her character goes about securing stability in her life.
What’s Next for Cassie?
Now that Cassie has been exposed, her world has crumbled around her. Ken has thrown her out, and her family has disowned her, leaving her isolated once again. The question now is whether she will learn from her mistakes and attempt to change or if she will fall back into old habits.
Fans of Coronation Street are eager to see where Cassie’s story goes next, but one thing is certain—her journey has been anything but predictable. And as Claire Sweeney continues to bring this complicated character to life, viewers can expect even more twists and turns along the way.
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