The actress has appeared on Corrie since 2000
Coronation Street star Samia Longchambon(Image: Samia_Longchambon Instagram)
Coronation Street star Samia Longchambon is celebrating a special occasion today. It has been 25 years since the actress started playing the role of Maria Connor on the ITV soap.
Since her first appearance on the soap in 2000, Samia has been a regular on our screens and a fan favourite. She remains as key to the soap as ever, often involved in some of the biggest storylines.
A particularly moving storyline Samia has been involved in was last year when her on-screen son Liam was bullied at school and for months viewers watched as Maria tried to support him. This included homeschooling him and giving him the support he needed. They also confronted the bullies, Mason Radcliffe and Dylan Wilson.
Today, May 19, Samia shared a special career update with fans. On Instagram she posted a photo of her first cast card from 2000 and her latest. The ITV star wrote: “25 years today since ‘Maria’ first stepped onto the cobbles @coronationstreet. Feeling nostalgic going through old photos, this is my first cast card from 2000 and then my latest one!
“Thanks to my Corrie family for having me be a small part of our very special show. Always grateful for the memories, and looking forward to making more! #coronationstreet #25.”
Co-stars were quick to point one thing out, that she “hadn’t changed” in 25 years. Kirk Sutherland star Andy Why commented “Are you sure there is 25 years between them pictures. Congratulations on screen sis really proud of you @samia_longchambon and hopefully many more years of Maria on the cobbles.”
Claire Sweeney agreed: “You look exactly the same haven’t aged. You look beautiful”, alongside a red heart emoji. New Coronation Street star Natalie Anderson shared the same thought, writing “You look the same!!! Gorgeous!! Congratulations lovely, what an achievement!”
Coronation Street Maria in her early days on the show alongside Tyrone(Image: Granada Television)
Tyrone Dobbs actor Alan Halsall commented “Beautiful inside & out! So proud of you Sam, Bill & Liz would be so proud too! Congratulations 25 years!!”
Emmerdale’s Beth Cordingly also noticed the similarity, commenting “You look exactly the same”, while Bobby Bradshaw who plays Liam Connor responded “Best step mum”, with a praising hands emoji.
Fans of Samia also congratulated the soap star on her achievement. Jean posted: “You are a gorgeous lady and a phenomenal actress Samia. I have been a proud fan of you for many years now.”
Jodie added: “25 years!! That’s crazy. Congratulations, just shows what a brilliant, cherished actress you are” and Aaron wrote “How on earth have you barely aged in all that time?!”
Away from screens, Samia is married to Dancing on Ice star Sylvain Longchambon. The couple met when partners on the dance show in 2013. They soon fell in love and married in 2016 and Samia has previously said how she believes her late father was responsible for bringing Sylvain into her life.
During an appearance on Loose Women, she said: “I believe in angels and I always think my dad sent Sylvain to me.” Sylvain and Samia welcomed their first child, Yves, in 2015 and the soap star is also the proud mum of Freya, who she shares with her ex-husband.