Izzy Armstrong
Izzy Armstrong is a fictional character in the British soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by actress Cherylee Houston since the character's debut on 16 April 2010.[1] The character, who lives with cerebral palsy, serves as a machinist at the Underworld factory in the fictional town of Weatherfield and is the daughter of builder Owen Armstrong and mother to Jake Windass, born via surrogacy.[1] Notable storylines have explored her relationships, including with Gary Windass, and personal challenges such as a 2015 decision to terminate a pregnancy after prenatal testing indicated Down syndrome in the fetus, which prompted public debate on selective abortion practices and the value of disabled lives. Another arc involved her unwitting participation in a cannabis growing operation, leading to legal troubles and highlighting tensions between medicinal needs for chronic pain and criminal law.[2] Houston's authentic portrayal, drawing from her own experience with the condition, has been praised for advancing realistic depictions of disability in media, though some narratives have faced criticism for reinforcing stereotypes or moral ambiguities.[3]