'I wanted to shock people and get a reaction"

Former Coronation Street star Dawn Acton has shaved her head in memory of her late mother.
The 36-year-old actress, who played Tracy Barlow for 11 years until leaving the show in 1999, decided to get rid of her hair to raise money for charity, following the death of her volunteer worker mother Jean Acton aged 56 last year.
She said of the decision: 'I wanted to do something that was quite striking so people would take a bit of notice and a woman shaving her head does get a reaction. I wanted to shock people and hope they'll give us money.'

What have I done? Former Coronation Street star Dawn Acton has shaved her head in memory of her late mother to raise money for charity

Mother-of-one Dawn is hoping to raise £2,000 with her actions.
Dawn first appeared in the ITV1 soap in 1988, aged just 11, and was later involved in major storylines including her near fatal ecstasy overdose.
She was written out of the show in 1999, but reauditioned for her role in 2002 when Corrie bosses brought the character back. However, the part was instead given to Kate Ford.

Going, going, gone! Dawn before having her head shaved (left) and mid-process

All gone! Dawn clutches the remnants of her shorn hair as she absorbs what she has done

Dawn is now famous as a local DJ, and works as a voluntary worker for Beanstalk, an organisation which helps children learn to read.
She said: 'Obviously I do miss working in Corrie but I do find the work I do now very rewarding. The fact is I believe everyone should have the chance to learn to read.

As she was: Dawn as Tracy Barlow with on-screen parents Anne Kirkbride and William Roache in 1996

'I still do DJ-ing but I like volunteering for Beanstalk as I supported children to read about things they were interested in and for them to be able to get enjoyment from it.'
Dawn added that it was her mother who originally got her involved in volunteering, and specifically with Beanstalk.
She said: 'My job is now to help others, we deliver training, all around funding, how to run a good charity or community group.
'We help groups source funding and support them to make sure they're running the charities right. I really enjoy it I get to meet lots of different types of people. My mum worked for Beanstalk for a long time, maybe eight years or longer, she was a charity coordinator so he supported the volunteers in what they did in the schools.
'And that's how I got into volunteering. When my son was young and I wasn't working as much through the day I had some time on my hands and I love reading and it's all about trying to help children understand that reading isn't necessarily a chore.'
During Dawn's time in the show viewers were gripped in 1995 by Tracy's resentment of her mother Deirdre during her stormy marriage with husband Ken.

Working it regardless: Dawn appeared to be thrilled with the final resulting look

Tracy became a sullen, trouble-making teen and was furious when Deirdre divorced Ken in 1990 and later decided to marry Moroccan waiter Samir Rachid. She grudgingly attended the wedding, but stayed only for long enough to say she'd been there.
Several months later Tracy landed in hospital, having collapsed after taking ecstasy at a club. Her kidneys failed and she needed a transplant. Samir was tested and found to be a match but he was attacked on the way to the hospital and died.
His kidney was used and Tracy was saved but Deirdre resented her daughter because her carelessness with drugs ultimately costing Samir his life.
Tracy left for London not long after and returned briefly in 1999 to marry carpet fitter Robert Preston in a £14 wedding dress.