This Coronation Street star turned a few heads after he was spotted at this year’s film festival – not least the hordes of Corrie fans who have yearned for his return to the cobbles
Coronation Street fans were left stunned as one of the soap’s beloved actors swapped the Weatherfield cobbles for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Ryan Prescott, who is best known for playing Ryan Connor, was recently spotted on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival.
Despite not revealing why he was attending the star-studded event, fans confessed they’ve “missed” seeing the 36-year-old on their TV screens recently, but agreed he looked fantastic mingling with the celebs. Ryan, who has also had stints in Emmerdale and Doctors, looked incredibly smart in a black suit and bow tie, posing with friends and soaking up the atmosphere of the annual festival, which runs until May 24.
Sharing snaps on Instagram, he simply captioned them: “CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2025.” Fans were quick to compliment the actor’s appearance after the photos were posted.
One fan commented: “Miss you when you’re not in Corrie but pleased you are having an amazing time,” while another added: “Looks like you are having a great time! You also clean up nice!”
A third chimed in: “Chuffed for you,” while a fourth fan remarked: “Looking dapper my brother.”
How Ryan managed to secure a spot at the exclusive event remains a mystery. As one would expect, the Cannes Film Festival is typically reserved for film industry professionals and accredited participants.
The festival is now an exclusive affair with restricted access, necessitating a badge for entry, keeping most of the festivities out of reach for the average Joe. This year’s event launched with much fanfare on May 13 and will run this Saturday, drawing in A-listers such as Nicole Kidman and Amal Clooney.
Meanwhile, Ryan’s entrance to Coronation Street came in 2018 when he became the much-loved Ryan Connor, stepping into Sol Heras’s shoes as the third actor to take up the role.
Despite his character’s on-screen drama, Ryan’s off-screen life is seemingly tranquil. The Merseyside-born actor made waves when he appeared in Emmerdale as Flynn Buchanan – Aaron Dingle’s romantic pursuit – before gracing the streets of Weatherfield.
Scoring the part was Ryan’s career milestone, leaving him initially gobsmacked by the limelight, even leading to fans hounding him for autographs post his stint in the ITV soap which lasted for 12 episodes.
Before hitting it big on the cobbles, Ryan secured parts in well-known shows such as Holby City, The Syndicate, Doctors and Casualty. But success didn’t come easy, as he encountered obstacles along the path to fame.
Confirming his Corrie gig opened the floodgates of online vitriol, with Ryan recounting to The Mirror: “I’ve had a few… you always get the occasional Facebook message. There’s always haters out there. Nothing too crazy but people give their opinion.
“Someone will say something like ‘I much preferred the other Ryan’, or something like that. I never reply. That’s where people go wrong.”
Aside from his TV appearances, the actor is quite the globe-trotter, frequently sharing snaps on Instagram from his globetrotting adventures. His passport boasts stamps from Thailand, Amsterdam, Monaco, and a significant part of the United States – yet he always finds his way back to his roots in the north of England.