Corrie star Sue Cleaver reveals she had an abortion aged 17 after getting pregnant by a 35-year-old man as she recalls being 'taken advantage of' in her 'tragic' teens Have YOU got a story? Email [email protected] By Amelia Wynne For Mailonline Published: 00:51 BST, 24 September 2024 | Updated: 00:56 BST, 24 September 2024 e-mail View comments Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has revealed she had an abortion age 17 after getting pregnant by a 35-year-old man. The Eileen Grimshaw actress, 61, recalled her 'tragic teens' in a new interview ahead of the publication of her memoir A Work in Progress.
She told how she became promiscuous and had one night stands when she was growing up as she looked for love and validation 'in all the wrong places'. After losing her virginity to an older boy she ran off with a sailor at just 16 before leaving him for his older brother and soon after getting pregnant at 17 with a 35-year-old man. She told The Mirror : 'I looked for love and validation and acceptance in all the wrong places and my first sexual encounters were with somebody who was four or five years older than me.
Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has revealed she had an abortion age 17 after getting pregnant by a 35-year-old man The Eileen Grimshaw actress, 61, recalled her 'tragic teens' in a new interview ahead of the publication of her memoir A Work in Progress 'There were boyfriends, one-night stands. I convinced myself that 'Oh, if I do this, they will love me'. I was always searching for a way to belong.
' Of her pregnancy she added: 'Again, that was somebody who was way older than me and took advantage. Now it's appalling to think of myself at that young age in that situation with men who should know better.' She chose to have an abortion and was supported by her mother, saying now as she looks back that she wants to go back in time and give her teenage self a 'big hug'.
Later in life at 26, Sue married actor James Quinn and the couple had son Elliott, now 28. However they divorced and she is now happily married to second husband, lighting technician Brian Owen. It comes after earlier this year Sue revealed she felt 'shamed and judged' before losing three stone.
She has been displaying a slimmer frame of late as a result of being 'seriously ill' last year as well as giving up alcohol . Appearing as a guest panellist on Loose Women , the soap star revealed she has been treated differently while at different weights. She told how she became promiscuous and had one night stands when she was growing up as she looked for love and validation 'in all the wrong places' After losing her virginity to an older boy she ran off with a sailor at just 16 before leaving him for his older brother and soon after getting pregnant at 17 with a 35-year-old man She told The Mirror : 'I looked for love and validation and acceptance in all the wrong places and my first sexual encounters were with somebody who was four or five years older than me' She explained: 'My weight has been up down all over the place and most of it was helped by red wine.
'At the minute I am a lot thinner but I've been ill this year and for some reason my metabolism seems to have changed and because I'm not drinking. But I have been the other way and I might go back the other way.' Sue continued: 'What I hate about it is the shame that is attached to being a bigger person.
The judgments made, quite often from other women. 'I find it really hard to take We're not stupid, we know we're big, we know we have a problem, we know we have an addiction, don't treat us like we are idiots. Read More Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver, 60, says she's 'come out from hiding away' after her incredible three-stone weight loss: 'I decided this decade is for me' 'Other women are shocking at it.
It's so in us. Examples are when I've lost weight I go into a room and someone goes 'oh my god, you look amazing, you've lost weight' all I will hear is 'you looked like an absolute dog when you were big'. 'It's how we talk about it that makes a big difference.
' Sue recently opened up on her weight loss, explaining it was part of a lifestyle overhaul. She admitted she 'over-did red wine' during the pandemic and pilled on the pounds, which inspired her to give it up. Despite her Corrie character Eileen Grimshaw spending a lot of time in The Rovers, she admitted that pubs are her 'idea of hell.
' Speaking Kaye Adams on her How to be 60 podcast , in quotes obtained by The Sun , Sue explained: 'In the pandemic we all over-did things. I spent a lot of it drinking lots of lovely red wine and I put on a lot of weight doing it. 'Then I did dry January and I thought.
'I wonder what life would be like if I stopped completely?'' The actress added her husband Brian, shares different views and 'love pub culture.' 'It was my idea of hell when I drank and especially now that I don't drink,' she said. Last year, Sue insisted she's 'not obsessed over diets' as she reflected on the unfair expectations placed on women while covering the March issue of Prima magazine.
She is seen on the iconic soap in 2001 She declared she would never promote any weight-related products as women have 'enough difficulties as it is'. On not being embroiled in diet culture Sue told the publication: 'I lost some weight in the jungle, but I'm not obsessing over diets: life is hard enough! 'There's always going to be outside pressure and unfair expectations placed on women, but I refuse to get pulled into it. 'That's why I'll never promote anything weight-related, and it's why I'd always rather compliment somebody on their smile or their outfit, rather than their weight.
' She continued: 'Let's just let women be women – we have enough difficulties and struggles as it is.' Coronation Street Loose Women Sue Cleaver Share or comment on this article: Corrie star Sue Cleaver reveals she had an abortion aged 17 after getting pregnant by a 35-year-old man as she recalls being 'taken advantage of' in her 'tragic' teens e-mail Add comment.
