Coronation Street star Tanisha Gorey has revealed that the reaction to her character Asha Alahan's big stories left her "in tears".
In the past year, Asha has had two major storylines, one which saw her trying to lighten her skin using skin-lightening creams, and the subsequent sexting storyline, which has had major consequences for her family and friends.
Asha's life was turned upside down when a photo she sent to her boyfriend Corey fell into the wrong hands and was circulated among her schoolfriends, leading her dad Dev (Jimmi Harkishin) to move her to a different school and hire a reputation management consultant to help her recover.
Related: Corrie's Dev pledges future to show after 20 years
Chatting to Digital Spy and other media, Tanisha said that she has been delighted by the positive reaction to her hard-hitting storylines from fans.
"Honestly, I was in tears reading the comments," she said. "I think also because the skin-lightening storyline was my first proper storyline, I was so so proud, and so happy with myself that I've earned that, that the writers and everyone up there thought, 'We'll give this one to Tanisha'.
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"I didn't expect such praise and such positivity, because I know storylines can be very varied in that sense, so I was really like, 'This is the first time people can see what I can do, and the first time everyone is watching me being vulnerable', so I was really, really scared.
"It was a constant thought of, 'You can't let it get you down, you can't let it get you down', but then then when I got this flood of positivity, it made me so fulfilled, and like... I can't explain the feeling! It was great."
Related: Corrie star doesn't want romance plot with fiancé
Tanisha added that she was very pleased to be able to raise awareness of these issues and to "educate people", explaining that many people were unaware of the concerns surrounding skin-lightening and that "it was definitely something that needed to be shown".
The actress also revealed that she has been contacted by lots of viewers who can identify with Asha's storylines, saying that she is pleased that her stories have encouraged people to seek help and advice.
"I had quite a lot of young viewers on my Instagram, there's a lot of under-16s," she said. "So a lot of people were messaging me saying: 'It's actually made me realise that it happens a lot'. People telling me: 'I've got help, I've got in touch with someone, I'm currently getting help because you gave me the confidence to do this'.
"Obviously it's awful what happened to them, but it's so nice they've got the confidence and they're starting to feel some sort of growth and will get help with this because it's not okay.
Related: Corrie star: New filming measures "challenging"
"That's what it's about, getting people to talk and get help. It was like I was with them on the journey, even though I wasn't from the start. Even though I don't write the scripts, they're looking at me going through that and I've portrayed it okay enough for them to get some help. It's really nice.
"I didn't think the story would do as well as it has. I didn't think people would take it seriously either. For people to have the confidence to even message me about it, it's amazing."
The Alahans' troubles aren't over yet as Dev, financially crippled by Asha's new school fees, struggles to cope and is forced to consider selling the kebab shop. He is left furious when he catches Asha kissing Corey in the ginnel and rages at her behaviour.
Asha's twin brother Aadi (Adam Hussain) is stuck in the middle trying to hold the family together but with a hard-hitting teen-focused story on the way, could things be about to get even more difficult for the Alahan family?
Coronation Street currently airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm on ITV.
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