‘Marianeedstostay away from men!’
Corrie star Samia Longchambon chats the ups and downs of lockdown and why her character Maria should give up on finding her happy ever after
If there was an award for the most unlucky-in-love character in soapland, Coronation Street’s Maria Connor would surely run away with first prize. After a string of doomed relationships (getting together with her first husband Liam’s murderer springs to mind!), Maria is now thought of as the street’s ‘black widow’. And this week it doesn’t look like her fortune is about to change, as she prepares to tie the knot with Weatherfield’s latest bad boy Gary Windass – completely oblivious to the fact he’s also a murderer.
Gary’s also having second thoughts after realising he still has feelings for his ex Sarah Platt. So will the couple even make it down the aisle?
Luckily, 38-year-old actress Samia Longchambon is worlds apart from her Corrie alter-ego and is pleased to report she enjoyed a drama-free lockdown alongside her Dancing On Ice star husband Sylvain and two children Freya, 10, and Yves, four.
We caught up with Samia to chat about returning to the cobbles, how she’s been keeping her family entertained and why she’s now a dab hand with a pair of scissors…
Hi Samia. Was it nice to return to Corrie?
Apart from my maternity leave, it’s the longest I’ve had off in 20 years, so I couldn’t wait to come back. It’s great to be here and it feels very safe, but it’s like a ghost town. I’m used to going into the make-up room and having a bit of a gossip and a catch-up with everyone, so it’s weird sitting in your dressing room on your own. I’ve been putting my music or a podcast on just for a bit of noise.
What did you miss most about being at work?
The people – everyone says it but it really is like a family. We have a WhatsApp group with all the Corrie girls in, so we were keeping in touch and helping each other along. I was in touch with Ali King (Carla) every day and Jane Danson (Leanne) came round and sat in the garden. I also saw Bill Roache (Ken) as he lives around the corner.
Did you get up to anything fun during lockdown?
We were in the garden every day and I did yoga a lot, which kept me sane! We enjoyed making proper homecooked meals. I don’t think we had a take-out for about four months. I’m also learning French with the Duolingo app and I watched loads of YouTube videos to learn how to cut my own fringe. I even ordered some scissors off Amazon. Sylvain did his own hair, but mine needed a good cut and I was so excited when I finally got to the hairdressers.
How about any of the other lockdown clichés?
I’ve been baking a lot and bike riding. I bought myself a bike and we’ve been going on family cycles. I’d not had a bike since I was a teenager so now I have a Victoria Pendleton bicycle with a basket and it was so nice to spend all that time with the kids.
You’ve been open about suffering from anxiety. How did you cope during lockdown?
I had good days and bad days. Some days I’d watch the news and I’d be terrified for the future, and other days I was dead happy in my little bubble with my family all day. I’m still a bit nervous about going out. I’ve not been to a restaurant yet and I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve been to the supermarket because I have health anxiety. I’ve started going in now, but I didn’t go at all during lockdown.
‘Ihavehealth anxiety…and canfeelterrified forthefuture’
How is Maria feeling on the countdown to the big day?
From Maria’s point of view, they’re in a good place and she’s happy. Maria always wants the fairy tale and to some extent she thinks Gary is her Prince Charming.
Will she ever learn?!
I know. She’s not got a good track record with murderers, or partners dying around her. I think she’d run a mile if she knew the truth about Gary. Well, I hope she would… But you never know with Maria!
What was it like filming the soap’s first socially distanced wedding?
When Maria married Liam it was a huge wedding at Arley Hall. This one is a lot more subdued in the Bistro with not many people there. I was interested to know how they would change scripts and make it work so me and Mikey [North, who plays Gary] could film it and still be socially distanced. I also had a bit of input into the dress, so, if nothing else, she’s got a nice dress!
Samia with her dog on her new bike
Tell us about it…
It’s simple, summery and completely different to her first dress. It’s got a bit of a boho look and it’s white, which is a bit of a contradiction for Maria! She’s hardly virginal…
What advice do you have for Maria when it comes to love?
Stay away from men – definitely from men that live on Coronation Street! She needs to look a bit further afield. Maria is really naive and doesn’t learn from her mistakes. She trusts people too quickly considering what she’s been through.
Do you think she’ll ever find lasting happiness?
I don’t know. Maria’s happiness comes from other places, like her friendships with Audrey and Emma and her family and her son Liam. I don’t think her happiness will ever lie with a man.
Gosh, no! I definitely didn’t think I’d be here 20 years later and I feel very lucky to still be enjoying it and getting to work with such lovely people.
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