“It was like a celebration of life. Even though it was raining, I was smiling.”
On Sunday, 30 August, Emrhys Cooper completed the demanding 70.3-mile triathlon at Wimbleball in Somerset. Despite heavy rain and slick, muddy terrain, the 41-year-old persevered through the grueling course.
Emrhys, recognised by over four million viewers for his portrayal of Rowan Cunliffe, the cunning cult leader on Coronation Street, is not often seen tackling muddy countryside trails. Beyond soap fame, he appeared in the musical film Mamma Mia during the iconic “Lay All Your Love On Me” number. He also featured as a dancer on the 2008 series of The X Factor, which propelled stars JLS and Alexandra Burke to fame.
But what drives an actor accustomed to screens and stages to endure such physical challenges in the Somerset countryside?
For Emrhys, this endurance test symbolises a long and personal journey.
Born and raised near Totnes, Devon, often called England’s New Age Capital, Emrhys describes his childhood as unconventional. His parents were involved in what might be described as a cult-an insular group exerting considerable control over its members.
While the term “cult” can evoke images of remote communes and rituals, it broadly denotes any group isolating and exploiting those within it.
Reflecting on his Coronation Street role as the manipulative leader of a “self-help group” called The Institute, Emrhys found the experience unexpectedly therapeutic. “It was actually quite a healing experience,” he said. Consulting with his father about the part helped bring them closer.
His artistic work allowed him to unravel complex aspects of his upbringing. Nonetheless, his challenges extended beyond his early environment.
As a child, he struggled with what later was diagnosed as ADD (now ADHD). “I’m 41, so it wasn’t commonly diagnosed when I was young,” he explained.
Amid these difficulties, Emrhys found refuge in singing, acting and dancing. He graduated from The Central School of Ballet at 19 and went on to appear in various television shows including America’s Got Talent, CSI: NY and Desperate Housewives, as well as performing on London’s West End.
Throughout, he continually reflected on his identity and past experiences. He recalls school difficulties without understanding why at the time, and a family reluctant to discuss their vulnerable involvement in a cult.
“For many years, I hid who I was,” he confessed, sharing the gradual process of self-discovery, including the realisation of his sexuality and eventual openness about it.
Three metaphorical locked doors-his condition, his childhood trauma, and his sexual identity-required time, awareness and readiness to unlock.
In recent years, he has embraced diagnoses and truths previously unknown to him. Two and a half years ago, he embraced sobriety.
Currently, Emrhys maintains a daily routine of meditation, prayer and journaling, which he finds profoundly healing.
He is also actively involved in charity, serving as an ambassador for The Family Survival Trust, which educates about the realities of modern-day cults. Leveraging his passion for endurance challenges, he raises funds through marathons and triathlons.
Returning to last Sunday’s triathlon, Emrhys admitted friends thought him “insane” for taking on such an extreme test in adverse weather. Yet, he is proud to have completed it.
The actor’s schedule remains packed: performances at Soho Theatre this month in “Right Before I Go,” a film release “The Nice Ones” in October, and his first full Ironman triathlon in Portugal the same month.
Looking ahead to Christmas, he will portray a villain in “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” at the Malthouse Theatre, and in 2027, he will help launch the Rye International Film Festival, a project close to his heart.
Come rain or shine, Emrhys Cooper’s journey of healing and self-discovery continues with unwavering determination.