Samia Longchambon: Coronation Street allows me to juggle career with motherhood
Coronation Street star Samia Longchambon says her long-standing role on the soap enables her to balance her career with raising her children.
Samia Longchambon has "the best of both worlds" on Coronation Street.
The 44-year-old actress has played Maria Connor on the ITV soap for over a quarter of a century and says the stability of the part allows her to balance her career with raising her family.
Samia – who has daughter Freya, 16, from her previous marriage to Matthew Smith and son Yves, 10, with her current spouse Sylvain Longchambon – told Woman's Weekly magazine: "Corrie has given me the best of both worlds. It's a brilliant place to work. I love the people and, best of all, I love going home at the end of every day and being with my kids.
"It's been a great job in that way. I made quite a conscious decision once I had Freya. I thought, I don't want to be an actress who has to go up and down the country, not knowing where I'll be from one month to the next. It's really important to me that I don't miss children growing up."
Samia's Corrie alter ego's marriage is under threat on the soap after Maria's husband Gary Windass (Mikey North) was involved in covering up Sarah Platt's (Tina O'Brien) murder of Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) and she says it will be "touch-and-go" for the couple.
She explained: "It has been a really hard time for Gary and Maria, and it's touch-and-go whether they're going to make it through.
"I wouldn't have her patience – absolutely not! But she doesn't want another failed relationship, and as heartbroken as she is that he's chosen Sarah above his own family, she does love him and doesn't want to break up their family unit."
Samia added: "There are loads of twists and turns to come. I had a meeting with the producer the other week, and I'm still on the fence as to whether they're going to make it through."
Away from the drama of Coronation Street, Samia has a dream of owning a "quaint little tea shop" somewhere.
She said: "It's always been on my bucket list to own a quaint little tea shop.
"Hopefully, I'll do that at some point. I'd like a proper old English tea shop, where you can read books and maybe have reflexology sessions upstairs.
"I've even got a name for my tea shop, but I'm keeping that private for now!"
