Shelley King, famous for playing Yasmeen Metcalfe on ITV’s Coronation Street, has won over audiences not only with her gripping soap performance but also for her work in BBC’s Angels and appearances in The Bill and Silent Witness. Shelley, 69, is due to wave goodbye to Weatherfield however, with Yasmeen’s final scenes airing on Monday, 9 March. Away from her Coronation Street role, Shelley has bravely opened up about her private struggles, including grappling with her sexuality and an autism diagnosis. Revealing her late diagnosis at 67, she expressed that its made her “less scared of life”. “I don’t think 67 is too old, it’s never too late. It’s been a great outpouring and it’s making me less scared of my life and that I’m not doing things right,” Shelley remarked on receiving the news later in life.
Shelley King as Yasmeen Metcalfe in Coronation Street
(Image: ITV)
She even pondered if her autism may have nudged her towards the stage, saying: “I always wanted to perform… if I sing, it makes me feel better. Most actors are damaged in some way. They go into acting to fill a big hole in themselves or become somebody else.” During an intimate discussion with Kaye Adams on the How To Be 60 podcast, following her autism evaluation, Shelley admitted: “This morning has been quite a big deal for me. I’ve always had a temper, I’m very pedantic and I like to plan things. Simple things that people take for granted have not been easy for me.”, reports the Mirror. Shelley gave heartfelt thanks to her partner of 25 years, director Trilby James, who has been instrumental in aiding her to navigate symptoms associated with autism, acknowledging: “I’ve learnt a lot more about myself as she has helped me to become more tolerant and to like myself more.”
Shelley King and wife Trilby James
(Image: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)
Shelley and Trilby’s romance has been blossoming for over 27 years, with Shelley affectionately referring to Trilby as her “soulmate”, as reported by the Liverpool Echo. Opening up about her journey to Metro, Shelley recounted the moment she came out to her parents after beginning her relationship with Trilby. “Then I met Trilby, 27 years ago. She had never had a relationship with a woman and it was so difficult for both of us. But almost instantly we had an inexorable attraction. We are soulmates. It’s as if there is an umbilical cord between us. It’s not always plain sailing, but the ship will never break,” Shelley wrote in a heartfelt column. “After we got together, I ‘came out’ to my parents aged 42. They were not in the least surprised. Our families love us together and she made the wait to find my other half worthwhile.” Coronation Street airs on weekdays on ITV1 at 8.30pm
