Weatherfield may be a far way from Hollywood, but one Coronation Street actor starred in Oscar winning movie Shakespeare in Love alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, years before stepping onto the cobbles.

Daniel Brocklebank, 45, best known to soap fans as vicar Billy Mayhew, played the role of fresh-faced Sam Goose in the 1998 romantic epic at the age of just 18.

In the movie, Sam is cast to play the female role of Juliet in William Shakespeare’s new show Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter, before the titled is changed to Romeo and Juliet.

While Gwyneth’s character Viola de Lesseps secretly auditions as a man to play Romeo, before sharing a kiss with young Sam.

Shakespeare in Love also starred Joseph Fiennes, Judi Dench, Colin Firth, Imelda Staunton, Ben Affleck and Jim Carter.

The movie won five Oscars in 1999 with Gwyneth bagging Best Actress alongside Judi for Best Support Actor for her role as Queen Elizabeth.

On the big screen Daniel went on to star in 2002’s The Hours opposite Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep as well The Hole with Keira Knightley.

However he best known to TV audiences playing the role of Billy on Corrie since 2014, as well as appearances in Holby City, Emmerdale, Waterloo Road and The Bill.

Daniel Brocklebank previously revealed that coming out as gay in 1998 hindered his Hollywood career.

Speaking to The Mirror, Daniel admitted he was told by his managers in Los Angeles that going public about his sexuality would harm his career.

He said: ‘I stopped being screen-tested for the heterosexual male leads and I was either the gay best friend or the character parts. It was more in America than in Britain, but it was still very prevalent.’

He star said his personal life should have no bearing on the parts he plays and that one of the reasons he came out was because of the lack of gay role  models in the public eye when he was growing up in the 80s.

Coming out in the 1990s, Daniel said he likes to think he played a small part in helping societal attitudes to change and become more accepting over the years.

Earlier this year Daniel was confirmed to be leaving the soap after 11 years in a ‘sensational storyline’.

The actor’s ‘heartbroken’ partner Jordan Coulthard was quick to launch a stinging attack on soap bosses.

Jordan insisted that Daniel’s soap exit ‘isn’t his decision and swiped that ‘ITV are making a huge mistake’.

The Sun reported that Daniel would be waving goodbye to the Cobbles in 2026.

Daniel’s boyfriend Jordan took to his Instagram story to share his thoughts on the decision – and he certainly didn’t hold back.

Jordan said on social media: ‘Nothing to say. Not his decision. Huge mistake.

‘I can’t believe we are having this conversation. No words can express how heartbroken I am for him.  He will be magnificent.’

In another picture of Daniel posing as his alter-ego, he added: ‘Utter madness.’

Daniel also took to Instagram after the news broke, sharing a snap of him as the vicar with the caption: ‘Bye bye Billy,’ and a red love heart.

A representative of Coronation Street said that Daniel’s departure is storyline driven.

Meanwhile an insider revealed: ‘Dan will be involved in a major storyline which will see Billy exit the cobbles in 2026. Details are being kept under wraps at this stage.’