Samia Longchambon has grown up in front of viewers' eyes as Maria Windass - nee Sutherland and formerly Connor - in Coronation Street. And if her children have their way, they could end up doing the same thing.
The Eccles-born actress has been reflecting on her career ahead of turning 40 on Wednesday, July 13. She joined the ITV soap 22 years ago when the character was a kennelmaid at the family-run Sutherland's Kennels before she agreed to marry Tyrone Dobbs when he proposed atop Blackpool Tower.
She recently enjoyed a day at work with her two children, 12-year-old Freya from her first marriage to Matt Smith, and six-year-old Yves who she shared with her former Dancing On Ice star husband Sylvain Longchambon.
