Claire Jayne Sweeney is an English actress, singer, and television personality best known for her long-running role as Lindsey Corkhill on the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside (1991–2003).
She has built a versatile career spanning soap operas, West End musical theatre (including Chicago as Roxie Hart), reality television, presenting, and more recent work as Cassie Plummer on Coronation Street. She has also released a debut album and remains active across stage and screen.
| Claire Sweeney | |
|---|---|
| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Claire Jayne Sweeney |
| Stage Name: | Claire Sweeney |
| Born: | 17 April 1971 (age 55 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Walton, Liverpool, United Kingdom |
| Nationality: | British |
| Height: | 1.73 m |
| Parents: | Ken Sweeney, Kathleen Sweeney |
| Siblings: | Shaun Sweeney |
| Children: | Jaxon Reilly |
| Occupation: | Actress, singer, television personality |
| Net Worth: | $1 million–4 million |
Early Life and Education
Claire Sweeney was born on April 17, 1971, in Walton, Liverpool, England, to parents Ken Sweeney, a butcher who ran a shop in Toxteth, and Kathleen Sweeney. She has one brother, Shaun.
She grew up in a working-class family and helped in her father’s shop as a teenager. She began performing early, singing in local clubs from the age of 14. She trained at the Elliott-Clarke Theatre School in Liverpool before winning a place at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London. She is of British origin, and her religion is Christianity.
Career
Claire Sweeney started her professional life with singing engagements, summer seasons, and pantomimes after stage school. She made an early appearance on Brookside in 1991 as Lindsey Corkhill before spending several years performing as a singer on cruise ships.
Upon returning, she rejoined Brookside in 1995 and remained a central character until the series ended in 2003, becoming one of the show’s best-known faces through major storylines.
Her raised profile led to a stint as a housemate on the first series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2001 and the West End role of Roxie Hart in Chicago. She released her debut album Claire in 2002, which reached the UK Top 20.
Subsequent stage work included Guys and Dolls (as Miss Adelaide, opposite Patrick Swayze on tour), Tell Me on a Sunday, Legally Blonde, and Educating Rita. On television she has appeared in Clocking Off, Merseybeat, Candy Cabs, and Scarborough, presented 60 Minute Makeover, and served as a Loose Women panellist.
Reality credits include Strictly Come Dancing (2004) and Dancing on Ice (2024). From 2023 to 2026 she played Cassie Plummer, Tyrone Dobbs’ estranged mother, on Coronation Street.
Sweeney continues to work across soaps, musical theatre, pantomime, radio, and live performance, maintaining a strong presence in British entertainment for more than three decades.
Social Media
- Twitter/X Handle: @clairesweeney
Personal Life
Claire Sweeney has never been married. She was previously in a long-term relationship with businessman Tony Hibbard and was engaged to Daniel Reilly, with whom she shares a son, Jaxon Reilly, born in September 2014.
The couple experienced miscarriages before Jaxon‘s birth and later separated. In 2024 she had a brief relationship with boxer Ricky Hatton after appearing together on Dancing on Ice; they later confirmed they remained friends.
She is a single mother and has spoken about prioritising stability for her son while balancing her career.
Filmography
- Brookside (1991–2003)
- Coronation Street (2023–2026)
- Chicago (West End, as Roxie Hart)
- Guys and Dolls
- Strictly Come Dancing (2004)
- Dancing on Ice (2024)
- Claire (album, 2002)
Net Worth
Claire Sweeney has an estimated net worth of approximately $1–4 million, accumulated through long-running soap roles, West End and touring theatre, television presenting, reality television appearances, music, and related entertainment work.