'Coronation Street' Natalie Gumede: 'I want Kirsty to be a villain'

Coronation Street star Natalie Gumede has said that she would like her character Kirsty Soames to become the soap's next big villain.

The Weatherfield resident has angered viewers with her questionable behaviour since embarking on a romance with Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) last year, making an enemy of fan favourite Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) and discouraging the mechanic from seeing his friends.

"I've already had people shouting, 'Leave our Tina alone' and, 'You'd better look after Tyrone!' at me in the street," she told the Daily Record.

"Potentially she could be [a villain]. She's certainly a dark character and I'd be happy if she turned out to be villainous for a while.

"There's certainly an edge with Kirsty and a lot more to discover. She's damaged goods but I hope she comes out the other side and we see some justification for why she is the way she is."

Gumede added that regardless of whether Kirsty turns bad or not, she is just enjoying what could potentially be a short-lived Corrie stint.

"I'm in until July and then there are a couple of options so I don't know if I'm just a vehicle for Tyrone or Tina or if it's a long term thing," she confessed. "So I'm just enjoying every minute because I love going to work every day."

Speaking to Digital Spy last month, Gumede said that she saw Kirsty as a "psychotic" and "slightly damaged" character, but not necessarily a villain.

"There's definitely a dark side to her," she said. "It depends on how much they play with that [villainy] - but I'm yet to find out myself."

> 'Coronation Street' Natalie Gumede: 'Kirsty doesn't like herself'