Coronation Street star Melissa Johns reveals she broke down in tears after being ‘physically unable’ to open COVID-19 testing kit before returning to work
Former Coronation Street star Melissa Johns was left in tears on Saturday after struggling to open a coronavirus testing kit, before slamming the government in an angry Twitter tirade.
The actress, who was born without her right forearm, accused the Tories of ‘forgetting about disabled people’ after finding it impossible to open the packaging and assemble the kit with one hand.
Taking to social media, Johns admitted she burst into tears as a result of the incident after she was required to undertake a test before returning to work.
Emotional: Former Coronation Street star Melissa Johns was left in tears after struggling to open a coronavirus testing kit, before slamming the government in an angry Twitter tirade
She tweeted: ‘Just cried in a covid testing car park because I physically couldn’t manage. Have to be tested for filming next week.
‘Assumed an assistant would do the test for me. Not allowed. I couldn’t open the packaging. Couldn’t snap off the stick. Couldn’t undo the test tube.
‘The testing assistant just kept apologising that she couldn’t help. Not her fault at all. Just our sh*t government forgetting about disabled people again. Gonna go home and have a cup of tea with Bourbon biscuits.’
Hitting out: The actress, who was born without her right forearm, accused the Tories of ‘forgetting about disabled people’ after finding it impossible to open the packaging and assemble the kit with one hand
Old times: Johns enjoyed a two-year stint as Imogen Pascoe in Coronation Street before leaving the soap to pursue other projects in 2019
Johns previously admitted she is keen to change opinions regarding disability among actors working on stage on screen.
Sharing a short biography on acting website Mandy, she wrote: ‘I was lucky enough to be born with only one arm so I get to enjoy half price manicures and can afford to lose the ‘other glove’.
‘I, like many disabled actors, are continuously fighting to change the way disability is seen in this industry.’
Leading the way: Johns previously admitted she is keen to change opinions regarding disability among actors working on stage on screen
She added: ‘For me, having a disability has never been a disadvantage. Unless I’m trying to cut steak or tie up my hair. For me it’s about experiencing situations differently to people without disabilities and therefore having a different take on the world.
‘It’s about showing that talented disabled performers can be raw, gritty, vulnerable, beautiful, sexy, real and it coming from a very personal and unique place.
‘So its not a disadvantage. It’s an ability to see things from a completely different angle and take on characters in different way.’
Johns enjoyed a two-year stint as Imogen Pascoe in Coronation Street before leaving the soap to pursue other projects in 2019.
She will play Hannah in forthcoming six part BBC1 drama Life over the autumn, starring alongside acting legends Alison Steadman and Peter Davison.