If it had not been for the lure of Mike Baldwin's "Under World," Corrie star Suranne Jones could well have been a sassy Belfast girl. Suranne, who recently picked up the award for the 'Sexiest Female on Television' at the Inside Soap Awards, lived in Belfast for four months when she was 18; and loved the city and the people so much that she almost stayed!

Recalled Suranne: "I had a great time, working in panto at the Civic Arts Theatre. But after that I went to audition for the part of Charity Dingle in
Emmerdale. "I didn't get it of course, but got the chance of playing one of Mike Baldwin's Factory Girls in Coronation Street instead. The character of Karen McDonald has developed a lot since those early days, and of course I haven't looked back."

Now 26, she remembered: "I really enjoyed my time in Belfast. I was playing Prince Charming in Cinderella. "I remember it was directed by Peter Quigley and I socialised a lot with some of the cast of the panto in the Grand Opera House which was running at the same time. I met local stars like John Lenahan, perhaps better known as May McFetridge.

"For a while I lived off the Falls Road, then in a street off Botanic, near to the Arts. I remember going to the Empire and Robinsons quite a lot.
"Belfast was a really lively place and the people were lovely. I was over again not so long ago with Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald in Corrie) doing some acting classes for youngsters and I know I'm due back again next year. I always love coming here."

Suranne had her first glimpse of the Mournes and the County Down coast as VIP guest at the Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards recently. She immediately fell in love with the scenery and the ambiance of the Slieve Donard Hotel. "I just wish I was able to stay for the whole weekend, but I have to get back to London for a childrens charity do on Saturday night," she sighed over lunch, looking out at the autumn outline of the Mournes from the panoramic Slieve Slieve restaurant. But if the surroundings were a hit with Suranne, the Granada soap star
certainly went down well with the 400 guests at the glittering Awards Gala, one of the Province's most prestigious formal nights.

She was kept busy by a continual stream of autograph hunters, and for photograph requests. She even obliged with a song in the early hours -
hinting at her other passion outside of acting. She would like to star in musicals in the West End after she says farewell to the Street. Surrane has just a few weeks filming left in Corrie, but it will be Christmas Day before Karen has her final and farewell rumpus with arch-enemy Tracy (Kate Ford) and walks off tearfully down the treet for the last time, thus leaving the storyline 'open' that she could possibly make a comeback in
a future episode.

"Don't miss it," said Suranne of the Christmas Day episode. "It's the climax to another couple of months of trauma and turmoil with Tracy and Steve. "First of all, Karen becomes pregnant, then she loses the baby - it's one emotion after another. Karen is now back to her old bitchy, beligerent self, and it's probably best in a way. We had lots of calls from viewers who didn't like her squeaky-clean, god-fearing image recently. That just wasn't the Karen the viewers wanted to see." Suranne is looking forward to her break from the Street after four and a half busy years.
"At the moment I'm working from seven in the morning to seven in the evening Sunday to Friday. Karen McDonald is one of the main characters and storylines at the moment, and I'm really looking forward to the break. "I'm very much a family person, and the first thing I am going to do when I'm finished is visit some of my relatives in Australia and take a long holiday there."

Suranne is used to garish tabloid stories about her private life, and revealed she had recently fired off a formal complaint to the Press council
about one particular story in a Sunday tabloid. "My boyfriend is Jonathan Wrather who played Joe Carter in Corrie some time ago. We were together for a while, then were apart, but are back together again. There's no truth in any of the other stories - just fiction to sell papers."
Recently voted Best Actress, Best Bitch and Best Storyline at the British Soap Awards, Surranne (real name Sarah Ann "after my granny") comes from Oldham and is a typical Northern girl, but one who now wants to experience the bright lights of the West End stage.

"I have had parts in some musicals like Godspell and Little Shop of Horrors, but I will be moving to London when I come back from Australia and ideally I would like a good role in one of the famous musicals - Miss Saigon would be my preference. "I enjoy singing, but so far my TV appearances have been limited to playing Madonna and Catherine Zeta Jones in Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes." And she added: "It will be sad to leave Coronation Street. I have had some great times there, but it's good to know that I'm not going to be 'killed off' and the way is open for me to make a comeback some day.

"Besides, Steve would miss me..."

By Brian Ogle