Lucy Fallon

Lucy Fallon (born 13 November 1995) is an English actress. She gained widespread recognition as Bethany Platt in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2015–2020, 2023–present). The role has earned her several accolades, including two British Soap Awards, an Inside Soap Award, and a National Television Award.

Lucy Fallon
Fallon in 2018
Born	Lucy Fallon (1995-11-13) 13 November 1995 (age 29) Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2015–present
Known for	Role of Bethany Platt in Coronation Street
Partner	Ryan Ledson (2020–present)
Children	1

Early life

Lucy Fallon was born on 13 November 1995 in Blackpool, Lancashire,^[1][2] to engineer Andrew Fallon and accountant Angela Fallon.^[3] She grew up in Cleveleys, Lancashire,^[4][5] and has two older sisters, Rachel and Laura.^[6]

From the age of two, Fallon studied singing, dancing and drama at the Barbara Jackson Theatre Arts Centre; since the age of eight, she had private drama classes, and also took the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) exams.^[7] She first went to Hodgson Academy, and then attended the Blackpool Sixth Form College, where she achieved a Distinction Star and two Distinctions in BTEC Extended Diploma Performing Arts.^[5][8] For financial reasons, she declined offers from the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and ArtsEd to study musical theatre.^[4][7]

Before landing her role in Coronation Street, Fallon had several part-time jobs, including working at Subway, Next, New Look, and in the Merrie England bar on the Blackpool North Pier.^[3][4][7] At the same time, she appeared as a dancer in the pantomime Sleeping Beauty at the Blackpool Grand Theatre.^[6][7]

Career

Coronation Street

"Walking onto the set was surreal and nerve wracking, but everyone has been really welcoming and I am thrilled to have been given this great opportunity."

—Fallon on being cast as Bethany^[2]

Fallon made her professional acting debut in 2015 when she was cast as Bethany Platt, the daughter of Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien), in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.^[9] A returning character, Bethany had been played by child actors Mia Cookson (2000) and twins Amy and Emily Walton (2000–2007), before Fallon took over.^[10] She was 19 when she was cast to play the 14-year-old Bethany.^[2] She was offered the role after it emerged that Katie Redford, the actress who was originally chosen for the part, had lied about her age.^[9]

Fallon described Bethany as "a bit of a wild child. She's very feisty, but she does a lot of it to get a reaction."^[7] The Guardian's Hannah Verdier thought that she was "perfect" for the role and that her comedic skills were a "reincarnation of Joan Rivers, only with a Mancunian accent"; however, Steven D. Wright from the same newspaper felt that she was "far too old for her part."^[11][12] While on the soap, Fallon's character was involved in a highly publicised grooming and sexual exploitation storyline, which earned Fallon widespread acclaim.^[13] Barbara Ellen of The Guardian found her performance "immaculate", while Daily Mirror's Ian Hyland wrote that scenes which saw Bethany survive a kidnapping to testify in court against her abuser gave Fallon "another chance to show what a fine actress she has become."^[14][15] Fallon won the Best Actress award at the 2017 Inside Soap Awards, the Outstanding Serial Drama Performance at the 2018 National Television Awards, and the Best Actress and Best Female Dramatic Performance at the 2018 British Soap Awards.^[16][17][18]

Fallon left Coronation Street at the end of her contract in 2020 to pursue other projects,^[19] and her final appearance aired on 4 March 2020.^[20] In August 2023, it was reported that she would reprise her role in the series.^[21] Her on-screen return was broadcast on New Year's Eve 2023.^[22]

Other endeavours

Fallon competed in the ITV Christmas special All Star Musicals which aired on 24 December 2017 and was voted the winner for her rendition of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" from the musical Evita.^[23] She was a contestant on the ITV reality miniseries Don't Rock the Boat in November 2020.^[24]

Fallon starred as George alongside Pearl Mackie in the 2021 Audible horror series Sour Hall, set and recorded on a Yorkshire farm, which tells the story of a lesbian couple tormented by a Boggart.^[25][26] She was also cast in the titular role of Jazz in that year's BBC Radio 4 drama titled Jazz and Dice.^[27] Fallon next appeared as Molly Seagrim in the 2023 miniseries reimagining of Henry Fielding's novel The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling titled Tom Jones.^[28][29]

In 2024, she starred in the ITVBe reality series Drama Queens.^[30]

Personal life

Fallon has been in a relationship with footballer Ryan Ledson since 2020.^[31] Having suffered a miscarriage in March 2022, she became pregnant again later that year,^[32] and gave birth to their son on 30 January 2023.^[33] In August 2024, she announced that she was pregnant with their second child.^[34]

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2015–2020, 2023–present	Coronation Street	Bethany Platt	Regular role	[22][35]
2017	All Star Musicals	Herself	Contestant; winner	[23]
2020	Don't Rock the Boat		Contestant	[24]
2023	Tom Jones	Molly Seagrim	Miniseries; 2 episodes	[36]
2024	Drama Queens	Herself	Main role	[30]

Radio

Year	Title	Role	Ref.
2021	Jazz and Dice	Jazz	[27]

Audio

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2021	Sour Hall	George	Audible series	[25]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
2015	TV Choice Awards	Best Soap Newcomer	Coronation Street	Nominated	[37]
	Inside Soap Awards	Best Newcomer		Nominated	[38]
2017	British Soap Awards	Best Actress		Nominated	[39]
	TV Choice Awards	Best Soap Actress		Nominated	[40]
	Inside Soap Awards	Best Actress		Won	[16]
		Best Partnership (shared with Colson Smith)		Nominated	[41]
	RTS North West Awards	Best Performance in a Continuing Drama		Nominated	[42]
	Digital Spy Reader Awards	Best Soap Actress		Second	[43]
2018	National Television Awards	Outstanding Serial Drama Performance		Won	[17]
	TRIC Awards	Best Soap Actor		Nominated	[44]
	British Soap Awards	Best Actress		Won	[18]
		Best Female Dramatic Performance		Won	[18]
	TV Choice Awards	Best Soap Actress		Nominated	[45]
	Inside Soap Awards	Best Actress		Nominated	[46]

References

1. "Famous People from Blackpool". Blackpool Grand Theatre. 28 April 2020. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
2. Kilkelly, Daniel (29 January 2015). "Coronation Street: Lucy Fallon cast as new Bethany Platt". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
3. Killelea, Amanda (2 June 2017). "Coronation Street star Lucy Fallon tells of fallout from harrowing Bethany Platt grooming plot". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
4. "Blackpool's Lucy to hit the Corrie cobbles". Blackpool Gazette. 29 January 2015. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
5. "Big Corrie role for Lucy". Blackpool Sixth Form College. 2015. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
6. Gardner, Alison (24 June 2015). "'Bethany's the best fun to play!' says Corrie's Lucy Fallon". What's on TV. Time Inc. UK. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
7. Kilkelly, Daniel (10 March 2015). "Coronation Street newcomer Lucy Fallon: 'Bethany is a wild child'". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
8. "Lights, camera, action as Corrie goes live for Lucy and Hayley". Blackpool Gazette. 23 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
9. "New actress cast as Coronation Street's Bethany Platt". BBC News Online. BBC. 29 January 2015. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
10. Fitzpatrick, Katie (20 August 2017). "The Coronation Street child actors who have been replaced over the years". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
11. Verdier, Hannah (10 April 2015). "Coronation Street: it's double trouble on the cobbles as Sarah and Bethany return". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
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15. Hyland, Ian (2 October 2017). "Coronation Street is back to its best as raw emotion tugged at the heart strings". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
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23. Fitzpatrick, Katie (24 December 2017). "Lucy Fallon tipped for West End stardom as she wins All Star Musicals". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
24. Edwards, Chris (16 August 2020). "Coronation Street and Love Island stars join line-up for "gruelling" new ITV reality show Don't Rock the Boat". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
25. Harp, Justin (20 January 2021). "Doctor Who and Coronation Street stars' new LGBTQ+ horror series unveils first-look trailer". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
26. Seddon, Dan (29 October 2020). "Coronation Street's Lucy Fallon lands first role away from the soap". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
27. "Jazz and Dice". BBC. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
28. Petski, Denise (30 September 2021). "'Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham Joins 'Tom Jones' Reimagining For Masterpiece". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
29. Lane, Carly (30 September 2021). "'Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham Joins the Cast of 'Tom Jones' PBS Miniseries". Collider. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
30. Warner, Sam (27 March 2024). "EastEnders and Hollyoaks star Rita Simons joins ITV's new soap reality show". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
31. Seddon, Dan (24 December 2021). "Coronation Street's Lucy Fallon addresses claims she's split from boyfriend". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
32. Anderton, Joe (26 September 2022). "Coronation Street's Lucy Fallon pregnant with her first child". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
33. Anderton, Joe (6 February 2023). "Coronation Street's Lucy Fallon welcomes baby boy and shares first photo". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
34. Harp, Justin (19 August 2024). "Coronation Street's Lucy Fallon announces pregnancy in beautiful post". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
35. "Lucy Fallon: Coronation Street's Bethany Platt is latest star to leave". BBC News. 3 May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
36. "Tom Jones (2023) credits". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
37. "New Corrie star Lucy shines in TV award shortlist". Blackpool Gazette. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
38. "Revealed – the shortlist for the Inside Soap Awards 2015!". Inside Soap. Hearst Communications. 29 September 2015. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
39. Brown, David (9 May 2017). "British Soap Awards 2017 – full shortlist sees EastEnders miss out in Best Actor Category". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
40. "Royal showdown as The Crown battles Victoria at TV Choice Awards". The Irish News. 26 June 2017. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
41. Kilkelly, Daniel (31 October 2017). "Inside Soap Awards 2017 shortlist revealed – which Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars are up for prizes?". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
42. "Regional Awards – North West 2017". Royal Television Society. November 2017. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
43. Sandwell, Ian (29 December 2017). "Emmerdale almost achieves clean sweep at the Digital Spy Reader Awards 2017". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
44. Dainty, Sophie (13 March 2018). "Emmerdale triumphs once again with big win at this year's TRIC Awards". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
45. "Full list of nominations for TV Choice Awards". The Irish News. 25 June 2018. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
46. Kilkelly, Daniel (16 October 2018). "Coronation Street tops Inside Soap Awards 2018 shortlist with 18 nominations". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.

External links

• Lucy Fallon at IMDb