Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan has spoken about being bullied for a prolonged period of time as a teenager.

The actress, who plays shop worker Tina McIntyre on the ITV1 soap, told The Mirror that she regularly received abuse from a group of fellow youngsters while walking home from school each afternoon.

In an interview with the newspaper, Keegan explained: "I was only about 13 at the time so I was really scared. People are always braver in numbers and when they see someone on their own they tend to single them out.

"I had to change schools when my mom married my stepdad, so I had to go home on the bus to our new house and then walk for a bit alone. We didn't live far from the bus stop but I had to walk past groups of kids from the local school.

"There was no reason for them to pick on me other than the fact I was wearing a different school uniform and went to another school. It was ridiculous. They felt I didn't fit in. They would snigger every time I walked past and make nasty comments about what I was wearing."

Keegan - who is supporting the work of children's charity Beatbullying - added that her experience went on for two years before stopping when she confronted her tormentors.

She said: "I just snapped - I'd had enough. I stuck up for myself. From that day on they left me alone, they were stunned into silence and didn't say anything again."

The 23-year-old also called on the Government to do more to tackle the issue of bullying and encouraged victims to speak out rather than suffer in silence.



Read more: http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a288577/corrie-star-recalls-childhood-bullying.html#ixzz2V900LsVp

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