Michelle Collins, known for her iconic role as Cindy Beale in EastEnders, faced significant backlash when she joined Coronation Street in 2011 as Stella Price, the new landlady of the Rovers Return. The criticism primarily stemmed from her attempt at a Northern accent, which some viewers found unconvincing. Reflecting on this period, Collins admitted that the negative reception was “upsetting” and that she sought the assistance of a dialect coach to improve her accent. She noted that audiences initially struggled to accept her in the role, saying, “They kind of couldn’t really get their head around it… but yeah, people were very critical in the beginning, which kind of upset me a bit.” citeturn0search3

The intense scrutiny led Collins to consider resigning from the show. She recalled expressing her concerns to senior figures at Coronation Street, questioning whether she should step down due to the criticism. However, they encouraged her to persevere, assuring her of their support. Collins shared, “I did get to the point where I said to people high up, ‘Should I just resign? I’ve had enough. I can’t do this.’ But they said no, absolutely not. They told me to fight it and get through it. So I did.” citeturn0search1

Despite the initial challenges, Collins continued in her role until 2014, gradually winning over viewers and establishing Stella Price as a memorable character in the soap’s history.