ACCRINGTON soap star Julie Hesmondhalgh has been nominated for a top gong for her portrayal as Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street.

The 44-year-old actress, who filmed her final scenes for the show last year, captured the nation’s heart after an emotional on-screen battle with cancer, and is tipped to win the Best On-Screen Partnership alongside David Neilson, who played her husband Roy, at the British Soap Awards.

Julie’s final episode, titled Hayley’s Death, has also been nominated for the Best Single Episode Award, while her battle has been nominated for the Best Storyline Award.

David Neilson, who plays the eccentric Roy Cropper, is up for the Best Dramatic Performance award.

The character took her own life after finding struggling with terminal pancreatic cancer, in a storyline that saw Julie awarded the Best Serial Drama Performance award at the National Television Awards in January.

The awards ceremony will be held in London on Saturday, May 24.