Corrie star Sue Cleaver admits she had an abortion at the age of 17 after becoming pregnant by a 35-year-old man and recalls being 'taken advantage of' during her 'tragic' teenage years

Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has revealed she had an abortion at the age of 17 after becoming pregnant by a 35-year-old man.

The 61-year-old Eileen Grimshaw actress recalled her “tragic teenage years” in a new interview ahead of the release of her memoir, “A Work in Progress.”

She talked about how she became promiscuous and had one-night stands in her youth because she was looking for love and validation “in the wrong places.”

After losing her virginity to an older boy, she eloped with a sailor at just 16 before leaving him for his older brother and soon after becoming pregnant by a 35-year-old man at 17.

She told The Mirror: “I looked for love, validation and acceptance in the wrong places and my first sexual encounters were with someone who was four or five years older than me.”

The 61-year-old Eileen Grimshaw actress recalled her “tragic teenage years” in a new interview ahead of the release of her memoir “A Work in Progress”

“There were boyfriends, one-night stands. I told myself, 'Oh, if I do this, they'll love me.' I was always looking for a way to fit in.”

She added of her pregnancy: “That was also someone much older than me who took advantage of that. Now it is horrifying to see myself at this young age in this situation with men who should know better.”

She decided to have an abortion and was supported by her mother. Looking back, she says she would like to go back in time and give herself a big hug as a teenager.

Later, at 26, Sue married actor James Quinn and the couple had a son, Elliott, now 28 years old.

However, the couple divorced and she is now happily married to her second husband, lighting technician Brian Owen.

Sue had previously admitted earlier this year that she felt “ashamed and judged” before losing 20 kg.

Recently, her figure has become slimmer, which is due to a “serious illness” last year and abstinence from alcohol.

As a guest speaker on “Loose Women,” the soap star revealed that she is treated differently depending on her body weight.

She talked about how she became promiscuous and had one-night stands in her youth because she was looking for love and validation “in the wrong places.”

After losing her virginity to an older boy, she eloped with a sailor at just 16 before leaving him for his older brother and soon after becoming pregnant by a 35-year-old man at 17.

She told The Mirror: “I was looking for love, validation and acceptance in all the wrong places and my first sexual encounters were with someone four or five years older than me.”

She explained: “My weight was constantly fluctuating and red wine was the main thing that helped with that.”

“I'm much thinner at the moment, but I've been sick this year and for some reason my metabolism seems to have changed, and because I don't drink. But I used to be different and maybe I'll be different again.”

Sue continued: “What I hate about it is the shame that comes with being fat. The judgements that are often made by other women.

“I'm really having a hard time taking this. We're not stupid. We know we're big. We know we have a problem. We know we're addicts. Don't treat us like we're idiots.”

“Other women are shocked by it. It's so deep within us. For example, if I've lost weight and I walk into a room and someone says, 'Oh my God, you look amazing, you've lost weight,' all I hear is, 'You looked like a real dog when you were fat.'”

“It depends on how we talk about it.”

Sue recently spoke openly about her weight loss, explaining that it was part of a lifestyle change.

She admitted that she “drank too much red wine” during the pandemic and gained weight, which prompted her to stop drinking.

Although her character Eileen Grimshaw from Corrie spends a lot of time in The Rovers, she admits that pubs are “hell” for her.

Speaking to Kaye Adams on her podcast How to be 60, Sue explained in quotes obtained by The Sun: “During the pandemic we all overdid it. I spent a lot of time drinking a lot of good red wine and gained a lot of weight.”

“Then I did Dry January and thought, 'I wonder what life would be like if I quit altogether?'”

The actress added that her husband Brian has different views and “loves pub culture.”

“It was hell for me when I was drinking, and especially now that I don't drink,” she said.

Last year, Sue insisted she was “not obsessed with diets” as she reflected on the unfair expectations placed on women in her report for the March issue of Prima magazine.

She can be seen in the cult soap from 2001

She explained that she would never advertise weight-related products because women “have enough problems as it is.”

Speaking about not being caught up in diet culture, Sue told the publication: “I lost some weight in the jungle, but I'm not obsessed with diets: life is hard enough!”

“There will always be pressure from outside and there will always be unfair expectations placed on women, but I refuse to let myself be drawn into it.”

“That's why I will never promote anything that has to do with weight, and that's why I'd always rather compliment someone on their smile or their outfit than their weight.”

She continued: “Let women just be women – we already have enough difficulties and struggles.”