Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote reveals she has retrained as a nail technician

She’s known for playing Katy Armstrong in Coronation Street. 

And Georgia May Foote revealed on Saturday that she is fully qualified to work as a nail technician after completing her training during lockdown.   

The star, 30, who left the soap in 2015, penned a lengthy Instagram explaining the new job to her followers, insisting she hasn’t quit acting but just decided to learn something new to help with her anxiety during the Covid pandemic.

New skill: Georgia May Foote has revealed that she is now qualified as a nail technician after training for her qualification during lockdown

She wrote: ‘Ok so this is a very different post for me but please…. hear me out. I have been an actress for 22 years of my 30 year life and i wouldn’t change it for the world. And I never will. 

‘I recently qualified as a nail technician and I am super proud of myself for the reason i am about to explain, 

‘I have had people asking if i am quitting acting, if my work has dried up, if i am skint. The answer to all of the above is HELL NO.’

Best of both worlds: The star, who left the soap in 2015, penned a lengthy Instagram explaining the new job to her followers

Best of both worlds: The star, who left the soap in 2015, penned a lengthy Instagram explaining the new job to her followers

She continued: ‘I have just filmed the job of my dreams as Falista on The Outpost, how could i ever ever turn my back on the thing i love more than life?

‘I will NEVER give up acting but let me tell you why i am now doing nails in my downtime from acting….

‘I have struggled with anxiety for many years. As an actress we receive a lot of rejection, followed by massive celebrations. Then ran off our feet, to long periods of nothing. 

‘I have learnt this ‘nothing’ is when my self esteem drops the most. I lose confidence and i get bloody sad.

'My self esteem drops': Georgia revealed in the lengthy post that she's acquired the new skill so she can stave off her anxiety while waiting for more acting work to come through

‘My self esteem drops’: Georgia revealed in the lengthy post that she’s acquired the new skill so she can stave off her anxiety while waiting for more acting work to come through 

Explanation: Georiga insisted she hasn't quit acting but just decided to learn something new to help with her anxiety during the Covid pandemic

Explanation: Georiga insisted she hasn’t quit acting but just decided to learn something new to help with her anxiety during the Covid pandemic

‘As a creative person who loves having her nails done, i thought ‘why not fill my days making other people feel good, pushing my artistic side and feeling productive?’ 

‘I have no shame to put pride aside to put my mental health first. And neither should anyone else or even feel judged for doing so.

‘So yes. I am Georgia May Foote the actress still chasing her dreams. But I am also Georgia May Foote who does bloody amazing nails and has big plans on the side.

‘And most importantly i am Georgia May Foote who is proud of her achievements and proud of helping herself when she needs it the most. 

‘Ps. On the funny side, that is not a massive camel toe on this pic, i crossed my legs and the baggy pants have folded in a very unfortunate way,’ she signed off humorously. 

'Why not fill my days making other people feel good?': The former soap star said she will continue to act alongside her new skill

‘Why not fill my days making other people feel good?’: The former soap star said she will continue to act alongside her new skill

It comes after the Bury native slammed the TV industry last year for not using Northern actors in the relevant roles roles. 

She said: ‘Why are northern actors not asked to play northern parts? The accent is really difficult if you’re not from here.

‘A neutral accent is something northerners have always had to do to get work. Now our accent is more popular, why are we not getting the jobs when it is required?’

North of the border: It comes after the Bury native slammed the TV industry last year for not using Northern actors in the relevant roles roles

North of the border: It comes after the Bury native slammed the TV industry last year for not using Northern actors in the relevant roles roles

She was agonising over choosing something to watch on TV when she made the remarks on social media – with some believing she was specifically criticising new Netflix series White Lines, starring non-northern actors Laura Haddock and Laurence Fox, who both perform on the series with accents.

‘Trying to watch what should be a good series, but completely put off with an accent. I see and hear this so much!’ she added.

Georgia has also opened up about her mental health struggles in the past and said how anxiety medication ‘saved her life’.   

The soap star has been taking Citalopram – an antidepressant which is used to treat depression and panic attacks.

The 29-year-old Bury native said: 'Why are northern actors not asked to play northern parts? The accent is really difficult if you’re not from here!' [pictured filming The Outpost]

The 29-year-old Bury native said: ‘Why are northern actors not asked to play northern parts? The accent is really difficult if you’re not from here!’ [pictured filming The Outpost]

She said: ‘I have been on it for over two years now and it probably saved my life.

‘I am grateful there is medication that can help when you struggle so much to motivate yourself to help yourself. Now I understand what helps I am slowly coming off it.’

While the former soap star admitted that she found the side effects ‘awful at first’ she thinks it was worth it because of how much it changed her life. 

Candid: Georgia has also spoke about her mental health struggles in the past and said how anxiety medication 'saved her life'

Candid: Georgia has also spoke about her mental health struggles in the past and said how anxiety medication ‘saved her life’

The common side effects of Citalopram during the beginning stages of taking it are: dry mouth, sweating, being unable to sleep, feeling sleepy and feeling tired or weak.  

Georgia explained that while Citalopram cures the symptoms of some mental health problems it doesn’t cure the root causes. 

She said: ‘It doesn’t cure anxiety, it doesn’t cure depression. It’s something that helps you think a little bit clearer so I found it was really useful alongside therapy because I could think a little bit clearer. 

‘I could sleep at night. It gets rid of that fuzzy feeling.

‘But I do still have them days, very badly at times like I don’t get how Chris puts up with me to be honest because I can’t put up with myself half the time.

‘It’s really difficult and I’m coming off them so I do feel like sometimes I’m having more of those days more often but yeah it definitely helped me, it helped me alongside therapy so I would advice it if you can.’  

  • For information or support with mental health issues visit mind.org.uk or call 0300 123 3393
Helpful: While the former soap star admitted that she found the side effects 'awful at first' she thinks it was worth it because of how much it changed her life

Helpful: While the former soap star admitted that she found the side effects ‘awful at first’ she thinks it was worth it because of how much it changed her life