Celebrity Traitors star Julie Hesmondhalgh says she found motherhood a 'struggle' and 'regrets losing her rag' with her two daughters

Published: 00:00 BST, 22 October 2026 | Updated: 00:01 BST, 22 October 2026

Julie Hesmondhalgh has confessed she found motherhood a 'struggle' as she opened up in a candid chat about balancing her career and family. 

The former Coronation Street actress, 56, has become a hit with fans after she starred in this year's Celebrity Traitors series before sadly being banished, despite her status as a Faithful. 

Most known for her role as Hayley Cropper and her groundbreaking story line as the soap's first transgender character, she has also starred in Broadchurch, Happy Valley and The Pact. 

The star shares Martha, 25, and Lyss, 21, with her husband, writer Ian Kershaw. 

And balancing acting with being a mother, Julie admitted in her latest interview with Good Housekeeping, she said: 'I found a lot of motherhood a struggle. 

'Balancing my own life and work with motherhood was tricky at times. I have a lot of regrets about losing my rag with my kids. 

Julie Hesmondhalgh has said she found motherhood a 'struggle' and 'regrets losing her rag' with her daughters as she stars as Good Housekeeping's December cover star 

Balancing acting with being a mother, the actress, 56, admitted in her latest interview with Good Housekeeping, she said: 'I found a lot of motherhood a struggle'

'I took things too personally; I felt like they were almost trying to make my life difficult, which obviously they weren’t. They were just children.'

Elsewhere Julie also chatted about her appearance on the hit BBC show as she joked: 'I couldn’t say no! I’m obsessed with it. 

'I watch every iteration, even the one in New Zealand in which they drive their own cars and stay in a sh*t hotel. I was so chuffed to be asked.'

In several sweet moments, Julie was seen fangirling over the other stars in the castle. 

And commenting on the friendships she made she said: 'The extraordinary thing is that you’re all on the same footing. There’s no status at all. 

'You have these accelerated friendships because there’s a lot of time off-camera when you’re travelling in cars together and aren’t allowed to discuss the game. 

'People tell you about their lives; I found out so much about people and I was really touched that they trusted me.'

Julie's debut on the show won her legions of fans when she endeared herself to viewers and her co-stars with her starstruck manners.

 She said: 'I took things too personally; I felt like they were almost trying to make my life difficult, which obviously they weren’t. They were just children'

The former Coronation Street star has become a hit with fans after she starred in this year's Celebrity Traitors series before sadly being banished

Elsewhere Julie also chatted about her appearance on the hit BBC show as she joked: 'I couldn’t say no! I’m obsessed with it'

After shaking singer James Blunt's hand, Julie hurried over to actress Myha'la, telling her: 'It's lovely to meet you. I'm such a big fan Myha'la. I've watched all of Industry.'

She also got up to shake the hand of Oscar-nominated actor Richard E Grant.

Julie admitted: 'I do get a little bit starstruck and I do get a little bit hungry for friendship with people that I know off the telly so I'm hoping that I can really, really pull that bit of myself back.'

Fans were delighted with her fangirling though as one viewer wrote on X: 'Julie Hesmondhalgh looking like she's just delighted to have been invited to the castle is already one of my favourite things about this series'.

'Few mins in to the Traitors and I'm loving Julie, going to the people she loves the most from the telly! this will be a great series!' agreed another.

Another fan pointed out that the actress has earned her place among the celeb cast, commenting: 'julie hesmondhalgh being starstruck like she isn't literally hayley cropper #traitors.'

Despite the excitement from fans, she was the third star to be banished when her fellow celebrities were convinced she was a Traitor. 

Julie and Hannah Fry, 42, both found themselves in the firing line during the tense roundtable discussions earlier this month, but it was the Coronation Street legend who ultimately received the most votes.