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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zara Woodcock

Single Claire Sweeney looking for 'financially secure man' after making £5k in lockdown

Claire Sweeney revealed she's looking for a 'financially secure man' after she made just £5,000 during the coronavirus lockdown.

The Brookside actress, 51, struggled when the entertainment industry was pulled to a halt due to the pandemic.

Thankfully, she sold her house in Mallorca in 2019 for £835,000 and lived off the savings from it but it was still 'tough'.

Although her career is soaring thanks to her West End and Radio jobs, she wants to make time for dating as it's 'important to feel like a woman.'

"I have a great network of male friends, all my gay friends, so I don’t feel there’s a massive void in my life," she explained.

"If someone came along who’s great and enhances my life then brilliant. I want someone who’s interesting, makes me laugh, and who’s financially secure so I’m not having to keep them!" she insisted.

Claire earned only £5,000 during the pandemic (Mike Marsland/WireImage)
She thankfully sold her home in Mallorca in 2019 (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

She added to OK! Magazine: "But I’m quite happy and loving life."

The star appears to be in better spirits after revealing the depths of her money struggles in a candid admission last year.

The actress told how the Covid pandemic and lockdown had 'decimated' the entertainment industry, and prevented her from getting lucrative jobs.

Claire said she made just £5000 in 2021 and after selling her holiday villa in 2019 for £804,000, was able to 'sit it out' despite the taxes she paid on the sale.

The much-loved former soap star opened up about her struggles during an interview with The Sunday Times and was asked how much she earned.

She hopes to find an 'interesting' and 'financially secure' man (instagram.com/claire.sweeney)

She said: "Under £5,000. Our industry was decimated. Thankfully I'd sold a house in Spain, in 2019, so I was blessed that I could sit it out comfortably.

"It was a big house in Mallorca that I'd bought in 2004 for €690,000."

Claire, who is mum to Jaxon with her ex Daniel Reilly, added: "It broke my heart to sell but it was in its own grounds, and my little boy didn't want that - he wanted to be with other kids."

Claire first found fame playing Lindsey Corkhill in Channel 4 ’s Brookside until the programme ended in 2003.

Since then she has appeared in TV shows such as Celebrity Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing and was a regular panellist on Loose Women until 2005.

She has also featured in a number of West End shows and toured the UK with the hit musical, Hairspray.

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