HER character has gone from a gymslip mum to glamorous young woman, cementing Walmersley actress Georgia May Foote as a favourite on the cobbles.

The 22-year-old’s path to Coronation Street began at a Bury theatre school, where many of her co-stars also caught the acting bug.

Georgia, who has played Katy Armstrong in the ITV soap since 2010, said: “I went to Carol Godby Theatre Workshop from being nine until I was about 17.

"Then I started helping out with the classes for a couple of years and I’ve recently left now and I’m with a different agency.

“That’s just how I started out really, going to drama school.

“Helen Flanagan went and Sam Aston who plays Chesney, Jennie McAlpine went, there’s loads of people. She’s done well to be fair.

“I think there must be a bit of talent in the water, in Bury.”

The former Elton High School pupil, who lives in Bolton with her fiancé, also played Alison Simmons in school drama series Grange Hill, from 2005 to 2008.

She said: “I think we’ve got quite bubbly personalities in these two towns (Bolton and Bury). We are genuinely good, funny, laughing, happy people.

“I think that’s the good thing about Bury, it’s just on the outskirts of Manchester but not too far. It’s in a really nice little place.

“I do like living in Bolton, it’s nice but it was a bit strange for me because all my family are from Bury.

“Literally, you drive up Walmersley Road and you turn off to different aunties and grandma and mum and dad.

“It’s a bit strange for me because I am definitely a Bury girl at heart.”

Her stunning looks have earned Georgia a clutch of sexiest soap star nominations and accolades, which the actress says makes her chuckle.

She said: “I can’t even say it, it’s crazy. If you knew me, I’m not sexy at all. I’m sat here with a little ribbon in my hair.

“I find it funny, I find it really strange. I’m such a lazy person, lying around in my scruffs.

“When it comes to the awards, I love all the getting ready and doing the carpet and then as I sit down, I think, I could just go and wipe all this off now.”

After a break playing Katy, she is heading back to the screen where she was last seen embarking on a short-lived affair with Ryan Connor and breaking up with childhood sweetheart Chesney Brown.

Georgia said: “I’ve had a bit of time off recently, that’s why I’m off screen. But it’s still good, I’m still enjoying it.

“I’m back in now so it’s good.

“Her friend Steph, she’s coming back as a full-time character now so we will see quite a lot of them, a bit of banter between those two coming up.

“It’s nice to have somebody around your age there, with you a lot.”

She admits the level of attention, from fans and media, has increased as her storylines have become more intense but she manages to take it in her stride.

She said: “I was 19 when I started. I’ve been doing this since I was a kid. I did Grange Hill all through high school so I had a lot of growing up to do as well as school and private life and being on a big programme.

“I’m kind of used to it but this is like a different level, it’s a bit crazy.

“But I love it, I wouldn’t change my job for the world.

“I love Corrie but I know I wouldn’t stay there forever. I’m only young so I’ve got a long career ahead of me, hopefully.

“I’d like to go and do films and dramas and things like that and hopefully I will do, fingers crossed. We’ll just have to see.”

As she continues to carve out a successful career, would she ever consider moving to London for work?

She said: “Oh God no. Because I’ve been going down from being so young on my own, I used to run to get on the quickest train home.

“Even still, I can’t enjoy it because I think, I just want to go home. I don’t think I could live there, I’m too much of a family girl. I need to see my grandma at least once a week, she’d kill me otherwise.”