Suranne Jones has come a long way since her Coronation Street days! The star, who is currently the lead role in upcoming BBC drama Gentleman Jack, will be on the Graham Norton Show on Friday to discuss her new project. From Corrie to Doctor Foster to now, the 40-year-old actress has certainly come a long way since her days as feisty Coronation Street resident Karen Macdonald, and HELLO! have taken a trip down memory lane to follow her evolving transformation.
Suranne Jones as Coronation Street's factory worker Karen Mcdonald
Suranne first came onto our screens in 2000 as Corrie's factory worker Karen, who was often described as a posh "Victoria Beckham wannabe". During her reign on the ITV soap, Karen's wardrobe consisted of denim jackets, power suits and the character's trademark hoop earrings. The actress was involved in major storylines during her time on the soap, including her explosive showdown with enemy Tracy Barlow during her second wedding to Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), which was watched by millions up and down the country. Suranne was even awarded Best Actress at the British Soap Awards, and Most Popular Actress at the National Television Awards, for her portrayal as Karen.
Karen and Steve Mcdonald were an iconic Corrie couple
However, after being in Coronation Street for four years, Suranne was ready to move on, shocking fans by announcing she was quitting back in 2004. The actress later told The Times: "I just thought, ‘While she’s brilliant and I’m enjoying her I’ve got to get out’. I was living and breathing Karen McDonald."
Suranne's career went from strength to strength after she left Coronation Street, seeing her land a lead role in ITV's detective drama Scott & Bailey, staring alongside Lesley Sharp and former Corrie co-star Sally Lindsay. It was Sally who introduced her to now-husband Laurence Akers. The actress recently opened up about her relationship on This Morning, telling hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby: "I met Laurence at Sally Lindsay's wedding. He was friends with her husband. A year later, we married and a year after that we had a baby."
Suranne went on to star in Scott & Bailey with Lesley Sharp
Since 2015, Suranne has been best known as doctor Gemma Foster in BBC One's Doctor Foster. Her portrayal as the wronged wife in series one back in 2015 saw her awarded with a Bafta, and rightly so. With a chic, cropped bob and power suits in her wardrobe, Suranne certainly looks the part, and has most recently been wowing fans with her stellar body. Most recently, the actress stripped off on episode three of the new series, and fans couldn't believe just how toned she looked. "Suranne Jones has some serious abs," one wrote on Twitter.
Suranne has had viewers on the edges of their seats in Doctor Foster
READ: Suranne Jones hints about Doctor Foster season three
Suranne has not only been wowing on screen, but has been involved in the production side of this series of Doctor Foster too. The actress hopes that the new series will help break the stigma surrounding heartbroken women, telling The Radio Times: "People use the word 'mental' when women get upset about men going off with younger women. 'She's mental', 'she's lost it'. No. Her heart's broken, and her world has been turned upside-down, and actually I think Doctor Foster makes people feel like their deep feelings are understood, at the same time as it being entertainment."
READ: Suranne Jones forced to pull out of theatre show after suffering from mystery illness