Coronation Street viewers have heaped praise on Maureen Lipman for her work on Wednesday’s episode (28 June) of the long-running ITV soap.
Lipman plays Evelyn Plummer in the Manchester-based serial drama. Her character is a reliably no-nonsense woman, who is estranged from her drug-addicted daughter Cassandra (Claire Sweeney).
During the mid-week episode, Evelyn received a call that Cassandra was in the hospital, which led to an emotional in-person exchange about their differences.
Since Evelyn is usually straight-laced and restrained, her breaking into tears while arguing with Cassandra in her hospital bed marked a significant and memorable moment for the character.
Soon after it aired, viewers expressed their appreciation of the heartfelt moment and how Lipman’s performance showed a more vulnerable side to Evelyn than ever before.
“Maureen Lipman who plays Evelyn proves again what a brilliant actor she is, this scene with her on-screen daughter was outstanding,” wrote one Twitter user, to which another wrote: “What an amazing actress Maureen Lipman is!”
High praise also went to Sweeney’s part in the scene.
Another viewer added: “The best, most well-written and performed scene I’ve seen in Coronation Street for a long time – Brava to both players – The timing, the delivery, the emotion all superb, right down to the tear that rolled down Claire Sweeney’s cheek as Maureen Lipman left. I think that was real.”
Others simply called the scene a “masterpiece in acting”, with some asking for more opportunities to see more storylines that inspire heavyweight performances.
Maureen Lipman— (ITV / Twitter)
“Superb acting from Maureen Lipman. What a national treasure! Corrie doesn’t do this sort of acting nearly enough.”
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Last year, Lipman spoke about a day in her life while filming the soap, and spoke of her affection for the programme for its connection to her late husband, the dramatist Jack Rosenthal.
“I’ve had quite a wonderful career in that I’ve never stopped working, but I’ve had quite a limited career,” she told The Times.
“I’ve never travelled. I’m like kosher wine – it doesn’t travel. I see Coronation Street as something of a completion of the circle because my late husband, Jack, wrote many episodes.”
