Amy Barlow (also McDonald, also known as Patience Cropper) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by Elle Mulvaney. She was born on screen during the episode broadcast on 9 February 2004. To date, the character has been portrayed by eight child actors; Holly Bowyer, Rebecca Pike, Louisa Morris, Rachel and Sarah Corker, Madison Hampson, Amber Chadwick and Elle Mulvaney.
Amy is the daughter of established characters Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) and Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), granddaughter of Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride), Ray Langton (Neville Buswell), Ken Barlow (William Roache), Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard) and Jim McDonald (Charles Lawson) and the cousin of Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) and Adam Barlow (Iain De Caestecker; Sam Robertson). Amy's storylines have included: her mother's selling her to Roy Cropper (David Neilson), who was presumed to be the father of Amy, and his wife, Hayley (Julie Hesmondhalgh); her becoming lactose intolerant and purposefully making herself ill so that her parents would be nice to each other; her losing her great-grandmother Blanche Hunt (Maggie Jones) and grandmother Deirdre; Amy being stuck in Victoria Court flats when a fire was accidentally started by Tracy, Amy falling pregnant at the age of 14 by gang leader Tyler Jefferies (Will Barnett), and having a secret abortion without telling her parents. Later storylines involve a relationship with Jacob Hay (Jack James Ryan).
Casting Holly Bowyer and Rebecca Pike shared the role of newborn Amy Barlow in February 2004 for a month until Bowyer left. Pike continued in the role until July 2005 when she was replaced with Louisa Morris. Morris departed two months later and the role was briefly taken over by twins Rachel and Sarah Corker for two episodes in September. Amy was once again recast later that month with Madison Hampson.
Hampson quit Coronation Street in early 2006. Amber Chadwick was cast as Amy Barlow when Hampson departed with Chadwick first appearing onscreen in March 2006.
Chadwick played the role until 2010 when the decision was made to recast Amy to tie in with the return of her onscreen mother Tracy. The casting of seven-year-old Elle Mulvaney was announced in March 2010. A spokeswoman said "Amy has some big storylines coming up so we decided to recast an older child who could play younger. This is common practice. For example, Alex Bain is two years older than Simon is on screen." Mulvaney first appeared onscreen in May 2010.
Development Early development In April 2011, Tracy was accused of poisoning Amy: when Amy came down with a mysterious illness, Becky blamed Tracy. A source said "Becky loves Amy and can't bear to see her suffering. She also can't bear seeing Steve and Tracy together. She is jealous and she quickly realises that Tracy is feeding off the attention Steve is giving them both. Becky can handle herself but Tracy is a dangerous enemy to make," the insider added. "If Steve believes Tracy over Becky, it could signal the end of their marriage." In May 2011, Amy was diagnosed as being Lactose intolerant and Tracy found out that Amy had been drinking milk to make herself ill in order to make her parents nicer. Kate Ford said of Amy's actions "[Tracy] catches Amy taking milk from the fridge. Amy drops the milk and locks herself in the front room and Tracy calls Steve round to coax her out. Amy tells them she's been making herself ill because then Steve comes round and her parents are nicer to each other...both she and Steve feel very guilty. They haven't behaved well and at times have forgotten that there's a child involved."
In November 2015, it was announced that Simon would lash out at Amy at Christmas as part of Simon's domestic abuse plot, where he had been attacking his stepmother, Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson). A source said that "The Barlows are going to be central to Coronation Street in the run up to Christmas. The close-knit family will be put under extreme strain and viewers will be left wondering if they can get through the turmoil."
Teenage pregnancy Coronation Street executive producer Iain MacLeod revealed that there are “great things coming up at Christmas" for "the unlikely character" Amy; speculation arose Amy could kill Tracy due to recent storylines and Amy's "menacing nature in the past." In November 2018, it was reported that Amy would fall pregnant in a "dramatic" and "scandal[ous]" storyline that leaves Tracy and Steve in "turmoil" as they "hit the roof" and "lose their rag"; Amy's life will also be turned "upside down" as she seeks support from Liz. Duncan Lindsay from Metro said Amy's storylines "don't come much more major than this" as well as believing Mulvaney "will be at the centre of some highly dramatic scenes." Lindsay also added that similarities will be drawn between Amy's teenage pregnancy and that of Sarah Platt's (Tina O'Brien) from 2000.
Storylines In August 2003, after a one-night stand with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) falls pregnant. However, Tracy drugs the much older Roy Cropper (David Neilson) and pretends that she has had sex with him, leading him to believe he is the father. Tracy offers to sell her baby to Roy and his wife, Hayley Cropper (Julie Hesmondhalgh), and they accept. Roy marries Tracy to ensure he would be named the baby's carer. Tracy gives birth to a daughter in February 2004 and she is called Patience by Roy and Hayley. Tracy later changes her mind and demands her daughter back during Steve's wedding, admitting that he is the father. Roy and Hayley hand her back and Tracy renames her Amy. Steve's wife, Karen McDonald (Suranne Jones), resents Amy's presence, even causing a fight at her christening. In December 2004, Karen later steals Tracy's car, unaware Amy is in the back. She burns the car, making Tracy believe that Amy is still in it when she is actually safe.
In January 2007, Tracy murders Charlie Stubbs (Bill Ward) and is subsequently imprisoned. Amy moves in with Steve and his mother Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard) at The Rovers Return Inn. As a toddler, Amy is almost knocked down by Harry Mason (Jack Ellis) while she is meant to be looked after by Darryl Morton (Jonathan Dixon).
In August 2009, Steve marries Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly), who cares for Amy as if she was her own daughter. In May 2010, when Amy is bullied about Tracy, Becky tells her about Tracy being in prison and they later visit her. Tracy's grandmother Blanche Hunt (Maggie Jones) dies in the same month. Becky looks after a confused and upset six-year-old Amy and she ties a picture to a balloon for Blanche. Tracy attends Blanche's funeral and is reunited with Amy, who is initially frightened of her. On Christmas Day 2010, Amy is upset further when Tracy attacks Becky. Tracy is freed and visits Amy, who tells her about Steve and Becky buying Max Turner (Harry McDermott). Amy moves in with Tracy at the Barlow house. In early 2011, Amy goes to Blackpool with Steve and Tracy. When she becomes fed up with them arguing, she runs off. Amy is eventually found and the family spend the night in Blackpool, after Steve's car is towed away. Amy is diagnosed with a dairy allergy after she ends up in hospital. Amy deliberately starts making herself ill, so Steve will come and look after her with Tracy. Tracy and Steve are mortified when Amy admits she has been drinking milk on purpose in a bid for more attention. In the summer of 2011, Steve leaves Amy with Tracy's adoptive nephew James Cunningham (James Roache), when he has a work problem to deal with. James asks Amy to go upstairs, but she overhears his conversation with a surveyor. James threatens to put Tracy in prison if Amy tells anyone. A few days later, Amy tells Tracy and James insists she is making the story up. Tracy and Amy then leave for London for a few weeks.
On their return in August 2011, Tracy announces she is pregnant and she and Steve start a proper relationship. Amy is excited to have two new siblings and Steve and Tracy back together. In December 2011, Amy acts in the local nativity play and she asks to visit Becky, following a fire at her flat on Christmas Day 2011. In January 2012, Amy is a bridesmaid at Tracy and Steve's wedding, but Steve and Tracy split up shortly afterwards. Steve divides the house in two, with Amy living upstairs with Tracy. When Steve cuts the electricity, Tracy asks her parents Ken (William Roache) and Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride) to look after Amy. Steve later removes the partition and moves out, leaving Amy and Tracy to live with Beth Tinker (Lisa George) and her son, Craig Tinker (Colson Smith). Lesley Kershaw (Judy Holt) takes Amy to the park. Steve catches up with them and brings Amy home to a worried Tracy. In June 2012, Amy notices her pocket money has gone missing from her piggy bank, but Tracy does not believe her. It later transpires that Amy's adoptive cousin Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) stole it along with Aadi Alahan's (Zennon Ditchett) game console. Tracy and Amy are left homeless when Steve decides to sell number 13, but they eventually move in with Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) and Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden). However, they are kicked out again when Tracy ruins Norris' shoes unaware that they were actually Emily's late husband Ernest Bishop's (Stephen Hancock). Ken refuses to take Tracy in however makes Amy as an exception, but Tracy refuses to separate from Amy. Tracy complains of stomach pains but everyone refuses to believe her knowing her manipulative personality. However Ken, Deirdre and Amy later find her on the floor collapsed and is rushed to hospital. Tracy tells Amy that she and Steve are reuniting, but witnesses Steve kissing his ex-girlfriend Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh). Upset and confused, she tells Deirdre. Amy eventually bonds with Michelle and accepts her and Steve's relationship. When Tracy begins a relationship with Rob Donovan (Marc Baylis), she starts bunking off to stay at his flat. Ken and Deirdre accuse Tracy of neglect and Amy goes to live with Steve, Michelle and Michelle's adoptive son Ryan Connor (Sol Heras) in their small 2 bedroom flat and Amy has to sleep on a sofa bed in the lounge. However, when Stella Price (Michelle Collins) puts The Rovers up for sale, Steve buys it back from her and Ryan goes to live in Ibiza. Liz returns as landlady of The Rovers and she also lives there. Amy stays with Ken, Deirdre and Tracy twice a week, but Tracy usually stays at Rob's flat for the rest of the time.