WHILE Denise Welch always seemed a skilled actress her exuberant private life threatened to eclipse her professional talents not so long ago.

Denise, just about to star at Bolton Octagon in the world premiere of Jim, Cartwright’s new play, will soon also celebrate her 57th birthday and she looks and sounds like a woman with her life sorted.

She had a well-chronicled addiction to alcohol and drug problems, with all the public embarrassment related “photo opportunities” provided. She now doesn’t drink and has lost two stone, and looks much more like the fresh beauty we all loved in Coronation Street.

She is also very open about the crippling depression she has suffered. She is an ambassador for mental health charity, Mind, and helps to fight the stigma and discrimination often involved for mental health sufferers today.

Denise is plainly very pro-active on this subject. The fact that she’s a well-known actress prepared to talk about this goes a long way to helping others, dispelling myths and opening up important dialogue.