ITV Coronation Street star Shelley King opens up on 'difficult' health diagnosis
Coronation Street star Shelley King, who plays Yasmeen Nazir on the ITV soap, appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss her recent health diagnosis
Coronation Street's Yasmeen Nazir actress Shelley King appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday to share her personal journey with a recent health revelation.
The 68-year-old soap star opened up about her autism diagnosis at the age of 67, detailing the challenges she faced with sudden script alterations and unexpected storyline shifts in her work environment, as well as the difficulties of socialising with new people.
Shelley, who has been a fixture on the Corrie set since 2014, told presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls: "In Coronation Street, things change all the time, if somebody gets ill you suddenly are doing their scenes.
"Also, on my first day, 10 years ago, I went into the studio and I hadn't met any of the cast before...I find that very difficult, meeting new people.
"[It takes] me a good few months to actually get to know the people I'm working with to therefore feel comfortable. I'm not very used to change, change is not a thing that actually helps me."
The discussion follows Shelley's disclosure last year that she was undergoing an assessment for autism, a move she embraced regardless of her age.
She reflected back then: "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," reports the Mirror.
Shelley implied that her potential autism seems to have guided her towards an acting career, stating: "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."
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In a conversation with Kaye Adams on her podcast 'How To Be 60', shortly after undergoing her initial autism assessment, Shelley disclosed: "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."
She appreciates her partner of 25 years, director Trilby James, for assisting her manage symptoms resembling autism, remarking: "I've learnt a lot more about myself as she has helped me to become more tolerant and to like myself more."
