ITV Coronation Street star reveals Rowan’s ‘cunning’ Leanne plan as new resident in danger

Coronation Street star Emrhys Cooper has revealed his character Rowan Cunliffe’s ‘cunning’ Leanne Battersby plan.

Elsewhere, the actor, 39, has admitted that playing a cult leader like the one that duped his parents has brought him closer to them. Emrhys has ditched the bright lights of Hollywood to move back to the UK and take up the role of creepy self-improvement guru Rowan in the ITV soap after 15 years in the US.

He says the job has brought him more than he ever imagined – including strengthening his bond with his dad. His parents Christoper and Raphaela were hoodwinked by a cult which tried to separate them from each other as well as from their cash. Emrhys, who grew up in Totnes, Devon, said: “Me and my dad never really spoke that much in depth about his experience and I’ve kind of been in America a long time, and we just weren’t that close.

“This role has actually brought me and my dad closer together, because I have asked him questions, and I asked his advice. It’s really great.” Emrhys, who has appeared in shows including Desperate Housewives, Vanity and CSI: NY, joined Corrie as smooth-talking Rowan, the good-looking leader of a group which calls itself The Institute, earlier this year.

He arrived in Weatherfield and quickly targeted Leanne (Jane Danson), who was vulnerable to his form of “support” after tragically losing her young son Oliver to illness three years ago. In the coming weeks we’ll see him try and get her to invest thousands into the institute – and also turn his attention to Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney).

“He sees another potential victim in Amy,” revealed Emrhys. “I think he’s going to orchestrate, cunningly, to get Leanne to do some of the dirty work and help recruit this new addition to the organisation. Amy’s a little lost, and she’s got £40k, so it’s perfect! He’s overheard about the inheritance through Leanne. She needs direction. And I think he thinks he’s the right direction.”

As well as raising awareness to his parents’ plight, Emrhys says he wants to highlight the threat of cults. “This role is particularly important to me because I hope it will spread awareness about the dangers of these types of characters and organisations,” he said. Elsewhere, with husband Donal soon relocating to the UK with their dogs this summer, Emrhys has plans to split his time between the Cotswolds and Manchester. “I’m having a really good time. I’m loving Manchester and just being connected to my roots and my family. I haven’t actually seen them much over the last 15 years so being closer to home is really cool.”

Emrhys became an actor at 12, appearing in TV shows and commercials, and made his West End debut aged 21 in the Queen musical We Will Rock You. A model, singer and trained ballet dancer, he has appeared in music videos with Madonna, the Pussycat Dolls and Christina Aguilera. But Emrhys’ big break was appearing in Mamma Mia!

He says landing a role on Coronation Street has been a career highlight – as has working with actors he’s looked up to all his life, like Bill Roache, who’s played Ken Barlow in Corrie for almost 64 years. He beamed: “Recently I worked with Bill Roache, I couldn’t believe it, I’ve been watching him since I was, like, 10 years old. He is such a special, terrific person, and, so inquisitive and – I need the secrets. He gave me a few. And what an inspirational person and just an amazing actor.”