Samia Longchambon has been on Coronation Street for 20 years, but she actually appeared on the soap long before she was cast as Maria Connor.
Samia first stepped foot on the ITV soap aged eight, then was cast in her iconic role 10 years later.
Having appeared in Heartbeat, Doctors, Cracked and some kids TV shows, Samia's big break came in 2000 when she beat off stiff competition to win the role of dog kennel worker Maria - reports Mirror Online.
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Samia was up against several rivals, including Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh and Hear'Say star Suzanne Shaw.
She said: "I thought I'd do my three months and then I'd be off. I was a jobbing actress when I joined and was really pleased to have a job for three months. I never imagined I'd still be here now."
During her time in Weatherfield, Maria has transformed from a kennel maid into a hairdresser and salon owner.
And her life off-screen has been pretty transformative with a divorce and romance with a co-star before she found her Mr Right.
Samia married property developer Matt Smith in 2005 after a seven-month engagement.
In October 2009 she gave birth to baby daughter Freya and had a temporary break from Corrie to go on maternity leave.
Speaking about her daughter in 2019, Samia said: "Freya is not fazed at all by me being on telly, the novelty has worn off! She would say to me that I was her favourite character, but I actually think her favourite character is David!"
On January 2011, the actress announced she had separated from her first husband by mutual agreement.
Soon afterwards she started a relationship with co-star Will Thorp and they later moved in together as a couple.
The pair met on the set of Corrie, where viewers saw their characters hairdresser Maria Connor and bad boy Chris Gray get together.
However, the couple split in December 2012 while Samia was in training for Dancing on Ice.
A friend told the Sunday People: "Samia is happily single, the relationship just fizzled out and ran its course. Will was having to spend a lot of time down south and working away while Samia is still living up north.
She is now concentrating on Dancing On Ice and her daughter Freya."
A source added: "Samia and Will seemed very settled after the initial fuss. They seemed happy and enjoyed home life. But sadly they grew apart."
Samia was partnered with pro skater Sylvain Longchambon on Dancing on Ice, who broke up with his girlfriend Jennifer Metcalfe, and the pair soon got together.
The actress believes her late father, who sadly died of cancer in 2009, was responsible for helping her find love with the French ice dancer.
During an appearance on Loose Women, she said: "I believe in angels and I always think my dad sent Sylvain to me."
Sami and Sylvain's son, Yves Josphe Longchambon, was born in September 2015, just months after they got engaged.
In August the following year the pair got married in a gorgeous ceremony, where fellow Corrie star Jane Danson was a bridesmaid.
Away from the cobbles, Samia actually has an exciting second job that is completely different to playing Maria.
In 2018, the Corrie star revealed she was studying to be a qualified reflexologist - an alternative therapy which involves applying pressure to certain points on the feet.
She said: "I've always been interested in reflexologies and holistic therapies and things. And it's just given me a focus, a break from my own head."
Samia took a baby reflexology course when her son Yves was little and while she was pregnant to help with anxiety.
Then she took part in a home study course and had to send off lessons to be marked before a practical at the end.
Samia admitted she would be getting to know her castmates feet a lot better as they were all keen to help out and have a session with her.
She said: "And they all keep offering to be guinea pigs for me. But yeah, have to make sure they've all got clean feet before I start poking round."
When asked if Maria could do some reflexology in the salon, she added: "You never know. Might be giving the writers ideas now!"
