Coronation Street star feared ‘backlash’ to lesbian love affair
Coronation Street‘s Faye Brookes has said that she thought there would be “backlash” to Kate and Rana’s same-sex love affair.
Brookes, who plays Kate in the soap opera, said that she felt a great deal of responsibility when she was handed the major storyline, in which Kate falls in love with Rana, a Muslim who is engaged to chef Zeedan in the programme.
“I am enjoying it more because at first I was sceptical when I was handed the responsibility of carrying this storyline, more so for Bhavna because I didn’t know what sort of backlash she would get,” she said to The Irish News.
“But it’s all been really positive and that is what Corrie does well,” she added.
It appears that fans are getting on board with the couple who they have affectionately dubbed Kana.
“I only want the best for Kate and Rana’s relationship so if there is a fandom at the moment for Kate and Rana then I am jumping on that bandwagon, completely,” said Brookes.
Rana’s family disowned her after the affair was discovered in Monday’s double bill of Corrie.
Fans declared the heart-wrenching episode “incredible” and an “inspiration” to lesbians and bi women everywhere.
“We are doing it for good and it’s been so well received that I know that we are reaching out to a lot of young girls that are of the religion that Rana is,” said Brookes.
Brookes hopes that the couple will be able to live their happily ever after now that they are both out of the closet, with hopes that storylines will allow them build a family in the near future.
“It would be quite significant for a lesbian couple to be married and to go through that whole process,” she said.
“We want to break down that barrier and I love the response from the Kana fans. This is groundbreaking and it’s brilliant for the LGBT community and for Rana’s religion.
“I think that’s really inspiring for the next generation so let’s go forward with that.”
However, there’s going to be some trouble in paradise before the pair get their happy ending.
This week, Rana, played by Bhavna Limbachia, will be kidnapped by her own parents in a bid to stop her from seeing Kate.
Coronation Street continues on Wednesday on ITV.
