Coronation Street star Samia Longchambon looks as stunning as ever as she celebrates her 40th birthday today (Wednesday). The actress has spent more than 22 years on our screen as Maria Windass - nee Sutherland and Connor - on the ITV soap.
She was just 18 when she made her debut on the famous cobbles as a kennelmaid at the family-run Sutherland's Kennels before she agreed to marry Tyrone Dobbs when he proposed atop Blackpool Tower. Their relationship, however, didn't last and Maria has gone on to face a host of good and bad times in Weatherfield since.
Off-screen, Samia has also gone through many of life's milestones with the Corrie cast by her side., from welcoming her two children - 12-year-old Freya and six-year-old Yves - and marrying former Dancing On Ice star Sylvain Longchambon.
And now her soap star friends are flooding her with heartfelt messages as she celebrates her milestone birthday. Samia has been sharing the posts from the likes of Andy Whyment and Alan Halsall to her Instagram Story for her thousands of followers to see.
Andy, who plays Samia's on-screen brother Kirk Sutherland in Corrie, shared a recent snap of the pair alongside Alan and Jane Danson from when the cast had a summer - or belated Christmas - party earlier in the year. "Happy big birthday to my on-screen sister and friend of over 30 years," he penned.
"Have a fantastic day," Andy added with gifs of the number 40 to which Samia replied: "Thanks bro." Tyrone Dobbs actor Alan also had some images to share of the pair from over the years.
Posting a montage of selfies to his own social media page, the Walkden actor wrote: "Happy Birthday to one of my closest friends. Getting on for 30 years and still the same beautiful person inside and out [heart emoji]. Have a wonderful day @samialongchambon."
On the last day of her 30's, Samia took to Instagram with a gorgeous selfie of herself from a recent birthday photoshoot with OK! Magazine. The mum-of-two was channelling rock chick glam in a plunging leather jacket and dramatic silver sparkling earrings. Her blond locks had been styled into loose curls while her rocked a dark smokey eye and nude lip.
"Had fun with this shoot.. @sallyrowemua you are a magician with a makeup brush!" Samia wrote alongside the snap which was soon being inundated with compliments.
Kimberly Hart-Simpson, who recently exited Corrie as Nicky Wheatley, wrote: "Unreal," alongside a string of flame emojis. Billy Mayhew actor Daniel Brocklebank commented: "STUNNING my love!!" Sally Carman, the ITV soap's Abi Wester, shared: "So gorgeous." While Kate Ford, best known for portraying Tracy Barlow, replied: "Oh wow!!! Stunning x."
And just like a few days ago when she posted about heading on a surprise birthday break during the last weekend of her 30s, fans couldn't believe her age. @kirsty_a_williams wrote: "40! You look more 20." @jacqueline.jones1 shared: "Samia you look beautiful and must say more like in your twenties, keep living the life that you do because your looking good from it."
The yoga fanatic actually credits her youthful looks to her Lebanese heritage on her father Joseph's side. "My dad passed away when he was 65, he didn’t really have wrinkles," she told OK! "I care about my appearance and I’m lucky I don’t have any wrinkles but I can tell I look older in the mornings – my face takes longer to wake up. And I have to get my roots done every month to fend off the greys.
“Being on Corrie for so long has made my life go faster, as we always film six weeks ahead – we shoot Christmas scenes in October – so it’s not 40 the number I’m apprehensive about, as I’m still 20 in my head! Still, growing old is a privilege and I’m really happy with where I am in my life."
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