Coronation Street’s Connor McIntyre aka Pat Phelan reveals how a massive heart attack changed his life
Actor who plays Weatherfield's most violent psychopath says he is 'philosophical' about life after 'staring death in the face' - and admits that compared to his character he is a 'big, big pussycat'
CORONATION Street's Connor McIntyre, known for his terrifying performance as the villainnous Pat Phelan, says he's lucky to be here after a massive heart attack threatened to take his life.
The 56-year-old actor says the ordeal made his perspective on life more "philosophical", and he admits that his character's fits of violent fury are as close as he'll ever come to losing his rag now, if he can help it.
Recently his character has been seen getting his former rape victim Anna in a headlock before pushing Seb off a ladder to his possible death - as well as kidnapping his second prisoner.
But Connor says he flushed any negativity out of his life the moment he realised he'd been saved from death by hard-working NHS staffers.
Reflecting on the heart attack a few years back, he told : “I should have been gone.
“But, luckily, I was in Manchester just minutes from the Royal Infirmary and the NHS did a great job. I had a stent fitted and here I am, still kicking.
“I have become increasingly philosophical about things... I have had a near-death experience and that gets your priorities sorted.
"I have stared death in the face. Life is short.
“I try not to sweat the small stuff and have less self-induced stress – to have a sense of gratitude about the day," he added.
Native Liverpudlian Connor previously confessed that he gets really upset when people mistake him for Phelan out in public.
Asked how he manages to be so convincingly evil on screen but so calm in real life, he explained: “I am reminded of a quote attributed to Gustave Flaubert , I think.
"[It] says: 'Ttry and live life like a quiet, mild-mannered civil servant and save your fire and your ice for your work’ – or words to that effect.”
The former Casualty actor aksi cinnebted that though he "shares a face" with the baddie, he's "a big, big pussycat” in reality.
Phelan's Corrie plots have been veering towards an incredibly dramatic climax, and fans are impatient to see the nutbag get his just desserts as soon as possible.
Connor couldn't agree more, and he added: “There is no doubt Pat will get his comeuppance. The soap laws dictate that and you come in knowing that as an actor.
"That is what we enjoy our soaps for. The viewers know eventually he will be the architect of his own destruction."
- Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights on ITV
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