HE has been in Hollywood hits Mamma Mia! and Desperate Housewives – but Emrhys Cooper says starring in Coronation Street is his “dream come true”.
The 39-year-old who plays Rowan Cunliffe — a group mentor in a new cult storyline — says the Weatherfield actors are friendlier and funnier to work with than celebs in the States.
And born in Devon, he is delighted to be back in the UK after moving to Los Angeles in 2008.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday, he says: “LA can be a funny place where, if you’re not on a billboard or haven’t won an Oscar, you can feel like you’re nowhere.
“But being on Corrie has made me realise, ‘Wow, I have actually done a lot’. I am so glad I am back in the UK. Corrie is honestly one of the friendliest sets I’ve been to.
“It has always been on my bucket list to land a role on the soap. Now I have, it’s a dream come true.”
Comparing the vibe on set with a US production, he adds: “It is very serious in America and I really appreciate the humour and banter on set with everyone on Corrie.”
Emrhys became an actor at 12, appearing in TV shows and commercials, and made his West End debut aged 21 in the Queen musical We Will Rock You.
A model, singer and trained ballet dancer, he has appeared in music videos with Madonna, the Pussycat Dolls and Christina Aguilera.
And he portrayed the “lift boy” in the Sugababes’ No1 single Push The Button.
‘Twists and turns’
But Emrhys’ big break was appearing in Mamma Mia! alongside Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried — where he got to sing with ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
He says: “I was working as a dancer on the movie and there was Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and a small group of us still there. We were all singing songs, with Benny and Bjorn playing the piano. It was pretty incredible.”
Other career highlights include Emmy-nominated series Vanity, CSI:NY and Desperate Housewives, in which he played Eva Longoria’s business manager.
He says: “Eva is very sweet, friendly and very smart. She was studying for a PhD and, between takes, was studying hard.
Corrie is honestly one of the friendliest sets I’ve been to
Emrhys
“I was so impressed by her work ethic and how she would then get straight back into acting. She gave me lots of advice.”
He didn’t just act in the States — he also became an award-winning director, writer and producer, working on romantic comedy Walk A Mile In My Pradas for Amazon Prime Video and Netflix drama Till We Meet Again.
He won the role in the ITV soap while living in California. Emrhys filmed his audition at home in Idyllwild on December 17 and was offered it on the 20th. He says: “It was the best Christmas present ever.”
He packed up his life in two weeks and moved to Manchester in January.
Emrhys says he was “bursting with pride” when he first set foot on the famous cobbles. “It was surreal on the first day,” he admits. “I was nervous. But everyone has been so welcoming.”
Viewers have seen Emrhys as smooth-talking Rowan cajole Leanne Battersby, played by Jane Danson, into believing his group the Altovalent Institute can help her come to terms with the death of three-year-old son Oliver in 2020.
It has already driven a wedge between Leanne and her partner, Nick Tilsley, portrayed by Ben Price, as well as her sister Toyah, played by Georgia Taylor.
They have both seen through Rowan’s vow of using “reality coding” to heal.
With family tensions next week reaching boiling point as Leanne falls deeper and deeper under Rowan’s spell, the cocky cult guru sets his sights on her money.
Emrhys says: “Rowan loves the attention. He wants to help, but also take advantage. He is used to family members being suspicious and he is prepared for it all.
“He is a confident salesman and he wants Leanne to go higher through the levels but, essentially, it also boils down to money and him getting her to give it to him.
‘LA is very serious… being on TV street is a dream come true’
Emrhys
“I am excited to see how this storyline unravels. Everyone keeps asking me what is coming up next.
“I don’t know what is in store for Rowan, but there are definitely going to be some twists and turns.
“I am sensing something ominous. He is such a fun character to play and this role means a lot to me, in helping show people how hard it is to sometimes realise wellness groups can actually not be one.”
Emrhys’ teacher dad Christopher, and mum Raphaela, a former dancer, were hoodwinked by a cult which tried to separate them from each other — and their cash.
Emrhys, who also wrote and directed the film The Shuroo Process, about a charlatan guru, says: “My parents were very scarred by what happened. They ended up giving the group quite a lot of money.
Because of that, I am very in tune and when a question mark goes off in my stomach, I trust it.
“Never say never, but I don’t think I will fall for anything like this. I hope this storyline will raise awareness about how common these groups are.”
Being on Coronation Street has given me a chance to put things into perspective
Emrhys
Emrhys’s parents and sister Fleur, who was in the ITV series Million Dollar Babes, are thrilled he is home.
And the actor is grateful he can spend more time with Raphaela, who has had a stroke.
‘Dark times’
He adds: “My family are really happy I am back. They are more excited about Coronation Street than any of the American stuff I have done.”
Emrhys also wanted a fresh start after three friends, including Ugly Betty creator Silvio Horta, died within months of each other.
He says: “Being on Coronation Street has given me a chance to put things into perspective. It has made me proud that I have stuck through some real dark times.”
Now Emrhys dreams of finding a house in the Cotswolds, while his hubby of two years, film producer Donal Brophy, 45, packs up their California homes.
He says: “We are really pleased that we’ve made the decision to come back. Donal is as excited as I am.
“Mind you, he still has to bring our two dogs over, plus our cat.”
