Farrel Hegarty

Farrel Jo Hegarty (born 27 January 1988) is an English actress and social media personality. She is known for her role as Lou Michaelis in the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street (2025–2026). She is also a content creator on TikTok, as well as having appeared in various stage productions across the UK.

Life and career Farrel Jo Hegarty was born on 27 January 1988 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. She studied at East 15 Acting School, graduating with a BA Hons in 2010. Hegarty is a lesbian and is in a relationship with a woman who lives in Australia. Her first television role was in an episode of the ITV soap opera Emmerdale in 2014. She went on to appear in a series of short films, with minor roles in the films My Dinner with Hervé and Big Boys Don't Cry. In 2021, she appeared in episode of Murder, They Hope; the following year, she played a receptionist in the film The Pay Day. In 2024, she appeared in episodes of The Dating Game and Brassic, as well as a short film Silent Night. Hegarty is also a content creator on TikTok, often sharing sketch videos.

In February 2025, Hegarty joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Lou Michaelis. She debuted alongside her husband Mick Michaelis (Joe Layton) and is subsequently revealed as the mother of Brody Michaelis (Ryan Mulvey), who is in a young offender's institution. Brody's paternity is subsequently revealed not to be Mick, but Kit Green (Jacob Roberts). Her character was sent to prison in July 2025, with Hegarty departing the show before returning in February 2026.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2014 Emmerdale Laura Atkinson 1 episode 2014 AppyEverAftR Television film 2015 Edit/Undo Sarah Conway Short film 2016 Date Waitress Short film 2018 My Dinner with Hervé Woman in Pub Film 2019 Coronation Street Reporter 1 episode 2020 The Wedding Dance Emma Short film 2020 Big Boys Don't Cry Club Girl #2 Film 2020 The Wedding Dance Emma Short film 2021 Murder, They Hope Jemima Episode: "Dales of the Unexpected" 2022 The Pay Day Receptionist Rebecca Film 2024 The Dating Game Tracy Episode: "Terrance & Tracy" 2024 Brassic Hayley Carver Episode: "Two Funerals and a Wedding" 2024 Silent Night Laura Short film 2025–2026 Coronation Street Lou Michaelis Regular role

Stage Year Title Role Venue 2010 Mixed Up North Bella Tristan Bates Theatre 2011 The Little Big Club Danni UK tour 2012 Soap Opera Jan UK tour 2013 Stand Vicky UK tour 2014 Hello Norma Jean Marilyn Monroe King's Head Theatre 2016 The Park Theatre 2019 Stags and Hens Bernadette Stockwell Playhouse