Coronation Street's Samia Longchambon flooded with co-star support as she makes '24 year' announcement
20.05.2024 - 07:01
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Coronation Street star Samia Longchambon has been flooded with supportive messages from her castmates as she marked 24 years since her debut. The actress is famed for playing Maria Windass - nee Sutherland and Connor - in the ITV soap.
Samia has starred in the long-running show since 2000 after beating Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh and Hear'Say star Suzanne Shaw to land the role. Maria, whose brother Kirk is still a Weatherfield stalwart, was originally seen as a kennel maid at Sutherland's Kennels. Soon, she agreed to marry Tyrone Dobbs when he proposed atop Blackpool Tower.
In her almost a quarter of a century in Corrie, Samia has only taken two breaks from the soap, in late 2009 and in 2015, both on maternity leave. In the two decades - to date - that she has been on-screen as Maria, Samia hasn't been short of dramatic storylines.
READ MORE: Coronation Street's Harriet Bibby hints at soap return as fans respond to cobbles snaps
READ MORE: Read more of our Coronation Street stories here
Taking to Instagram over the weekend, Samia looked back on her Corrie debut by sharing a look at her first scenes at the kennels alongside Tyrone, played by Alan Halsall, and Jack Duckworth, portrayed by the late Bill Tarmey, with Samia admitting the latter made her nervous.
"24 years ago today was my first appearance as Maria @coronationstreet..." Samia, 41, typed alongside the clip of her first scenes. "I was so nervous to be with the wonderful Bill Tarmey (and I think it shows).
"We filmed it on Easter Sunday and I remember being thrilled that I got a free Easter egg to take home on day 1! Imagine my first line being ‘cobblers’..." She added: "I’m super grateful to still be a part of this mighty show #goodolddays @alanhalsall."