Samia Longchambon in Coronation Street: 25 years on the Street and Dancing on Ice romance
Since 2000, Samia Longchambon has played the role of hairdresser Maria Connor on Coronation Street
In the year 2000, a brand new love interest for Tyrone Dobbs – Maria Sutherland – was introduced into Coronation Street.
Maria first appeared on our screens in May of that year, played by then 17-year-old Samia Longchambon (née Ghadie).
Now, all these years later, Maria remains a staple on Coronation Street, still played by the wonderful Samia.
So, just who is Samia Longchambon?
How did Samia Longchambon join Coronation Street?
Having been born and raised in the Manchester area, Samia grew up watching Coronation Street, and even attended drama classes with several actors who would go on to be her co-stars.
During An Audience with Coronation Street, Samia explained that an agent had overheard her doing impressions in a supermarket at six years old, and suggested her mum bring her along to drama classes.
In those classes, she met both Andy Whyment (Kirk Sutherland) and Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs), who would go on to play her on screen brother and love interest respectively.
At auditions to play the role of Maria, Samia beat out several other famous faces, including Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh and Hear’Say’s Suzanne Shaw, ultimately securing the role for herself.
How old is Samia Longchambon?
Samia was born in Eccles, Greater Manchester, on 13th July 1982.
As of this year, Samia has been walking the cobbles for an impressive 25 years!
Over the last two and a half decades, she’s grown up in front of our eyes. Having started on Coronation Street as a teenager, she celebrated her 43rd birthday this year.
What else has Samia Longchambon been in?
Prior to being cast as Maria, Samia played small roles in various television shows.
Some of her pre-Corrie credits include appearances in Cracker, Children’s World, Heartbeat and Doctors.
Since joining Coronation Street, she’s appeared in almost 2000 episodes of the soap, and hasn’t had much time to take on any other acting roles.
She has appeared as herself on the likes of Ninja Warrior UK, Beat the Chasers and Through the Keyhole.
In 2023, she appeared on the third series of Cooking with the Stars. Ultimately, Samia won the series.
Samia Longchambon on Dancing on Ice
Perhaps most notably, Samia appeared on Dancing on Ice in 2013.
During this series, Samia was partnered with professional skater Sylvain Longchambon.
Though the pair were unfortunately eliminated in week 8, and did not make it to the final, the pair grew close during their time working together.
After the series, Samia and Sylvain embarked on a romance.
Is Samia Longchambon married?
In 2005, Samia married her first husband, a property developer named Matt Smith.
The pair were married for six years, and had one daughter together.
In 2011, Samia reverted to her maiden name, Ghadie.
By 2015, two years after meeting on Dancing on Ice, Samia and Sylvain Longchambon announced their engagement.
In August 2016, the former dance partners tied the knot.
They have one son together, born in September 2015.
Samia Longchambon in Coronation Street
When discussing her role as Maria, Samia has joked that she’s something of a ‘black widow’.
Over the last quarter of a century, Maria has been married three times, but has made her way through a slew of men on the street.
Currently, she’s married to Gary Windass, played by Mikey North. They tied the knot in 2020.
Some of her biggest storylines include giving birth to a stillborn son in 2008, an attempted sexual attack by villainous Frank Foster in 2011, and three months in prison for marrying gay hairdresser, Pablo, just to get him a visa.
Most recently, Maria took centre stage when her son, Liam, was being bullied.
The bullying led to the teenager experiencing suicidal ideation, with Maria stepping in to look out for him and get her son the therapy he desperately needed.
Recently, Samia appeared on stage for An Audience with Coronation Street in both Sheffield and Salford.
