Coronation Street Blog Interview with Samia Longchambon

(This post was originally posted by Jordan Lloyd Beck on the Coronation Street Blog in June 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

 “She’s a massive fool. I feel like banging her head against the wall”

Samia Longchambon on Maria's affair with Aidan...

Hiya! It’s just Jordan with another interview from the recent press day at ITV. This time, it’s with Samia Longchambon, who gave a brilliantly comedic insight into Maria’s part in Corrie’s five-millionth love triangle. She’s a real trouper, that Samia. The ever-glamourous soap star wandered into the Bistro having just had a root canal, ready to dish up the gossip from Maria’s point of view.

The interview started by addressing the baby bombshell straight on; up until this point, Maria has fully believed that Aidan will leave Eva for her. This changes everything. Now, apart from anything else, Samia pointed out that Maria really should have learned that affairs do not work like that, after Tyrone cheated on her with Fiz about sixteen years ago. But Maria has fallen hook, line and sinker for Aidan, as we have seen. They’ve even got that Connor connection, Aidan being the cousin of Maria’s late husband. And we know that Maria’s not evil. She’s no Tracy when it comes to affairs, she’s simply blinded by love.  However, Maria does need to watch out when Eva the Diva is on the loose. Eva has got a meticulously dark plan to carry out her rage; the worst Maria can do is cut her hair.

“She doesn’t want to hurt Eva. She’s not doing this to be vindictive or a bitch or anything. She’s just in love with Aidan. But she is worried. I’d be worried; I wouldn’t want a beating off Eva!”

Samia explained that since the tragic loss of Liam back in 2007, Maria has never quite found that sort of love again, despite all of her searching.

“Her heart is in the right place. She loves her friends and she loves her family but she’s got that missing piece”  

When asked what Maria should do after this whole affair, Samia had the following hilarious response:

“She needs to just start going to church and redeem herself…throw herself into her hairdressing for a while. Stop being the Weatherfield bike”

Much of the interview focused on Maria herself rather than the love triangle, much to my relief. It made for a more interesting interview to hear about what could come next, rather than the initial ramifications. Because the affair is taking place within such a twisted family, both sides have separated like tribes. There’s the sorority of Eva, Leanne and Toyah on one side and sisters-in-law Michelle and Maria on the other. This divide undoubtedly promises some classic Corrie catfights, especially since Toyah and Maria already hate each other and bear grudges which, according to Samia, are not going away anytime soon. We could have a Gail and Eileen level on our hands very soon!

However, Samia jokingly pointed out that Maria and Toyah may one day bury the hatchet and become friends again, given that Maria has an uncanny knack of staying friends with those she hurts.

“Me and Tracy are friends and she murdered Charlie because I had an affair with him. Best mates again. I’m friends with Fiz; I stalked Tyrone and tried to nick her off him but they’re still my best mates!”

In terms of moving on and finding someone new, Samia said that Maria really needs to stop looking for so obsessively. It also transpires that Samia is a rooting for Team David when it comes to setting Maria up with someone. What do you think? Can you see Maria and David together? That would of course be after the problem that is Maria has taken Samia’s advice and gone to church, undoubtedly to be sung at by a bunch of frustrated nuns.

A fabulously hilarious interview, at which I was giggling throughout. Catfights on Corrie are essential as the Rovers and Betty’s hotpot, and I can’t wait to see the fiery drama between the tribes unfold and explode.

 As always,

Thanks for reading!

Jordan

Twitter @JordanLloyd39

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Corrie's Samia wants Maria and David together

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog May 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Samia Longchambon, who plays Maria Connor in Coronation Street, was interviewed on ITV's This Morning this week.  She talked about Maria's affair with Aidan and said it's going to get a lot darker.

She says: "Maria makes the worst decisions and it's got trouble written all over it. Aidan's just a dirt bag! I'm campaigning for Maria and David to get together."

There's a clip of the bit where Eva stuffed the cream horn into Maria's face this week. Samia said that the script called for the cake just to be put into Maria's mouth but Cath Tyldesley, who plays Eva, really went for it and stuffed it all over her face instead.

And for all those asking, Samia's skirt comes from Zara.

You can watch the video interview here.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

5 Magical Maria Moments in Coronation Street

Maria Connor isn't one of my favourite Coronation Street characters.  In fact, I listed her as one of the top three Corrie characters that I'd like to get rid of.

But when Maria is given something to do, something meaty, a storyline to get her claws into, she really is fun to watch. I think we need to see more of the old Maria and less of the wishy-washer hairdresser who mopes about the salon.

Let's take a look back at my top five favourite magical Maria moments, so far:

1. Maria slaps Carla. 
It's Maria's wedding day to Liam but both Maria and Carla know that Liam's in love with Carla, not Maria. The two women have a to-do in the ladies loo and Maria slaps Carla. I love this scene. More of this kind of thing, please, Corrie!




2. Maria falls in love with the man who murdered her husband.

It's the fabulous Tony Gordon, proposing to Maria after he killed Liam. And Maria? She's flattered, of course!



3. Maria gives birth in a beach hut
Baby Liam was born in a beach hut with Tony Gordon on hand to deliver Liam's child.

4. Maria stalks Tyrone
Fiz wasn't best pleased when Maria kept sending texts to Tyrone, worse still that Tyrone was defending Maria's actions.

5. Maria at the top of Blackpool Tower
In a wonderful scene, Tyrone proposed to Maria at the top of Blackpool Tower.



Come on, Corrie!  I know we've got more Maria and Aidan action coming up on Coronation Street, but give the girl a break. Give her a proper storyline and let's see something great from Ms Connor.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Corrie's Samia on home life, skating and wearing a prison tag

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog April 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

There's a long interview in today's Sunday Mirror with Samia Longchambon, who plays Maria Connor in Coronation Street.

She talks about her current soap storyline which sees her dealing with Aidan after their afternoon of rumpy-pumpy on the sofa in her flat.

And she also mentions the security tag that Maria is being forced to wear at the moment after being let out of prison.

"It is hysterical being tagged," laughs Samia, showing off her anklebracelet. "Luckily I haven’t forgotten to take it off at the end of the day yet for when I do my nightly shop. I’d get some right looks! Mine is pretty comfortable actually, but it keeps falling off. Which kind of defeats the object."

Samia also reveals a little about her home life, what she's likely to be getting up to this Easter weekend.

It's a good interview and you can read the whole thing here.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Coronation Street Blog interview with Samia Longchambon

(This post was originally posted by Ruth Owen on the Coronation Street Blog in November 2016, reposted with permission.)


It was a real pleasure to meet and interview Samia Longchambon, who plays Maria Connor in Coronation Street.  Samia was a great interviewee - very interesting, very warm and she really ran with the questions and was happy to explore possibilities and issues.

Viewers have witnessed Maria’s distress as Caz, on whom she took pity and took in when she was desperate, has turned on Maria, when she rejected Caz’s romantic suggestions and then told her that it would be best if Caz left.

I began by asking Samia if she enjoyed seeing herself play Maria on television
I watch the show to see where I’ve gone wrong and to see what I should do differently – to criticise myself, basically. I think I’ll give myself a day off from it on Christmas Day though.

Do you feel that you are following in Deirdre’s footsteps, when she was put in jail and the campaign Free the Weatherfield One began?
That’s what I thought when I first heard about this storyline – although Deidre wasn’t guilty and Maria kind of is. She’s not guilty the first time they put her behind bars – she’s not guilty of murder.
She’s going to be someone’s b....  I can’t say that word! She would not cope. I keep saying she’s going to come out with a tattoo of someone’s name on her chest, or a teardrop tattoo on her face or something. She wouldn’t cope very well.

Aidan and Maria are getting closer. Is it love or lust?
Caz is unwittingly pushing them both together. Aidan is convinced Maria hasn’t killed Caz. Anyone who really knows her, knows she’s not capable of murder. David is really behind Maria and Aidan. He is really gunning for her to be found not guilty. It pushes Maria and Aidan closer together over a period of time. You see her warming more and more to him. There’s that attraction there between them both. It’s building and building. There’s a couple of times when you think, are they going to kiss? and then they don’t, or they get interrupted. If you see how I look in these episodes, it’s certainly not lust.

I’ve been fighting with the make-up girls for more make-up and they’re like, nope, you wouldn’t be wearing make up for this. So, it has to be something deeper for Aidan, because I’m not looking my best. I think he genuinely does love her. He just wants to protect her. He sees himself as her knight in shining armour really and so does she. He’s her hero. He believes in her when a lot of other people don’t. Aidan’s the one person who believes she’s innocent, apart from Kirk.

He’s with Eva, so Maria’s aware that she shouldn’t be having these feelings, but she just can’t help it. They’re family as well – there’s that long history – she was married to his cousin. There’s a back history that we haven’t seen. There are a couple of times when he makes her feel really cheap. He kisses her, then won’t tell Eva – he wants his cake and eat it

What advice would you give to Maria concerning Aidan?
My advice to Maria would be to stay away! I would run a mile from him. Even Shayne is saying that himself. He’s like, ‘God, I can’t defend myself.’ When she finds the scissors, she realises that Caz has well and truly stitched her up. She realises then that it’s really serious and she could go to prison. Maria and Aidan are making the worst decisions ever – they’re hiding evidence when they should just be telling the truth.

And what about Liam in all this?
There’s a really sweet scene where Maria's’s cuddling Liam on the sofa, because she’s fearing the worst – she’s fearing she’s going to get sent down. They’re watching the film Up and she says, ‘I love a happy ending’. It’s really sad because you know she’s never going to get a happy ending.

Why does Maria let Adam Barlow turn her head?
Adam Barlow, ah yes. – it’s making Aidan jealous. He doesn’t really want her. She’s being reckless - she sees Adam as a distraction and a way to get Aidan jealous.

So is Maria really in love with Aidan?
Yes, I think she is in love with him. It’s not just a sexual thing. She does love him. Going through this together, he’s got her back no matter what. It means a lot to her – she does love him.

And what will happen when/if Maria goes to prison? And what about Eva?
Two possible prison sentences in the space of a month – that’s quite a record that is! For different things. If she does go to prison, she won’t come out the same person. It definitely would change her, but I’m not sure how. The usual sentence is 12 months if you have a sham marriage – it depends if they make an example of her. Eva and Maria are polar opposites. If I was him, I’d stick to Eva – she’s far less trouble!

And Caz?
No one seems to have warmed to Caz’s character, which means we’re doing a good job. She’s a true baddy. I hope everyone is #TeamMaria on this one.

Do you enjoy acting out the bad times?
This year is up there with when she lost Liam – but then she got engaged to Liam’s murderer. This year may take the biscuit though.

And what about Luke?
Luke is too reliable. She doesn’t go for reliable and safe – she just didn’t have that spark with him. - it’s like careful what you wish for.

What would you like to give Maria for Christmas?
For Christmas, I want freedom for my character. Liberty for Maria – that would be lovely. Don’t know if she’s going to get it though. Peace and love for everyone else.

Do you feel lucky to have your job?
This year has been amazing. It’s been one fab story after another. I enjoy it – I love my job. But, when I’m at home, I try and just be mum.

Does Maria annoy you?
Maria frustrates me a lot. I love her, obviously, I’ve stuck with her my whole adult life, so there’s something about this character that I do love. But, despite everything she’s been through, she’s still got this incredible naivety – she’s so gullible. It’s really frustrating. When I read the scripts I think, “God, you’re so stupid!” You will her to have a happy ending, but I don’t think she’s ever going to get it.

How do you switch off after a drama-filled day on set?
I try not to take it home with me.  Especially this stuff - it’s been really dark. You’re spending ten hours a day pretending to be depressed and fed up and looking at a prison sentence. So I’ve tried to leave it here at Media City and then go back to being mum at home. When I leave the gates, I put on my happy music and the drive home is my way of shaking off the stress.

Ruth Owen, twitter: @ruth1722


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Samia Ghadie weds Sylvain Longchambon

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog August 2016, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria Connor in Coronation Street married her fella Sylvain Longchambon on Saturday.


Samia and Sylvain met when they were paired together in the 2013 series of Dancing on Ice .

The happy couple announced their engagement in May last year and they welcomed their first child together, Yves Joseph, in September. Samia also has a daughter from her previous marriage to property developer Matthew Smith.



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Samia Ghadie: "I have no idea where Ozzy is"

In this week's fab Inside Soap magazine there's a Q&A with Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria Connor in Coronation Street.  The questions she's answering are ones from fans, so there's some interesting ones including a question about Ozzy the dog.  Remember him?

"Whatever happened to Ozzy the dog?" asks Faye in Worcestor.

Samia replies: "I don't know! I think Maria must have locked him away in the flat for a while - but I'm going to ask because I have no idea where Ozzy is."

In reply to other questions, Samia says she hangs out off-screen with Jane Danson, who plays Leanne. The most weird place she's ever been recognised was in the CN Tower in Toronto as she was lying on the floor.

And she admitted that she almost cut Kate Ford's (Tracy Barlow) fringe with the scissors when they were filming in Audrey's salon.



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Samia Ghadie - Maria's big future on Coronation Street

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog May 2016, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria Connor in Coronation Street, writes a blog over at OK magazine.

In the last blog, Samia writes about new Corrie producer Kate Oates and her own future on the show.

Samia says: "I had a meeting with Kate (our new producer) last week to discuss where we both think my character Maria, should be heading. Kate shared a few exciting ideas and storylines so I'm really excited about that!

My character has been a bit quiet over the last couple of years which has been fine as it's been great having a bit more time at home, but after hearing what is in store for me at work ,I feel ready for some fresh challenges. Watch this space!"

I am very happy to read this. Maria is a much-underused character, in my opinion. Samia can act her socks off when given the right storyline and I look forward to seeing much more of feisty Maria in the future.



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Coronation Street Blog Interview: Samia Ghadie

(This post was originally posted by Emma Hynes on the Coronation Street Blog in April 2016, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Maria makes her return to Corrie next week after a six month absence, but has arrived back from Cyprus with more than a fridge magnet; a new husband by the name of Pablo. I travelled from Ireland to ITV in Manchester to meet Samia Ghadie and hear all about what’s to come. To avoid spoilers, look away now!

Samia is excited to be back, but was she surprised at the storyline? “To be fair, Maria’s done loads of stupid stuff over the years” she told me, “so nothing is too surprising. But yeah, it’s kind of up there isn’t it, coming back with a gay husband from Argentina.”

So there we have it Corrie fans, but what’s all this about?

“The whole reason Maria’s married him is because he’s in love with Ash, his boyfriend who we don’t meet, and he needs a visa to get into the country, so actually what she’s done is illegal, but she’s done it out of the goodness of her heart so they can be together.”

Luke is naturally furious at the news that she’s married. How does he find out?

“He comes in the restaurant to surprise her with a big bouquet of flowers and she’s there having lunch with Pablo and obviously at first he doesn’t know that he’s gay, so to him, he thinks that she’s got a boyfriend back from Cyprus, and then I introduce Pablo to him as my husband and so he’s a bit puzzled to say the least.”

Poor Luke! Why has Maria kept this a secret from him? 

“She knew he wouldn’t be too happy, and I think alcohol played a part. She was drunk when they got married and so she wasn’t really thinking straight.”

So how does Maria try to make it up to Luke once he knows the whole story? 

Samia immediately starts laughing and tells me “I think I must have upset one of the writers, seriously. One of Audrey’s clients, Debs, is in the Weatherfield amateur dramatics so Audrey’s been telling her how to do her hair like a lion and she brings the costume in. It’s basically an excuse to get me in a lion outfit and make me look stupid. She is trying to say sorry to Luke by saying ‘I’ve made you look stupid by coming back with a gay husband, so I’m gonna make myself look stupid’.”

So, as far as Maria is concerned, is Luke the man for her?

“Yeah, I think so. But Maria is always thinking that whoever she’s with is the man for her, she always throws herself into it. I think she’s been with him quite a while now, and he knows Liam, and so she’s broken down that barrier of letting him have a relationship with her son, so yeah, she’s probably quite serious about him.” Since we spoke, the official Corrie site has revealed that  Luke gets down on one knee, but we'll have to wait and see if Maria accepts.

Who does Samia think was the perfect partner for Maria?

“Samia would say Tyrone, because I adore Alan, and he really is like a brother to me, and I love working with Al, but I’d say probably Liam was the real love of her life, he really broke her heart, and then obviously he died. Anyone who Maria gets involved with either leaves the show or dies” she laughs, “so I’ve warned Dean not to stay with me.”

I asked Samia how other characters on the Street react at the news of what she’s done. “Audrey’s the most judgemental ‘cos Audrey’s like Maria’s surrogate Mum” she tells me, “so she’s really not happy with her about it. Kirk’s reaction is quite funny. I think he says ‘what is it with you and the gays?’ She’s had a gay boyfriend and now she’s got a gay husband.”

Samia seems to be a big fan of Pablo and hopes the viewers warm to him, revealing “I actually texted the writer who wrote the episode saying ‘please can we keep [him] ‘cos he’s just hysterical'. My cheeks were hurting when I got home from laughing that night. He’s brilliant.”

Having made her Corrie debut in 2000, what has kept her with the show all these years?

“I just genuinely love Corrie, I love the show and the people here” she says. “I know it’s so cheesy and all of us say it, but it is like a second family. Especially ‘cos a lot of us have actually grown up together. There’s not many jobs where you’re actually still working with your closest friends that you’ve had from twenty odd years ago. It’s a really special place.” She confesses to having had itchy feet a few years ago, but not now. “It’s quite unique to be able to see a character through…it’s been really interesting to go through her life” she observes, adding that she still feels challenged, especially when tricky storylines come her way.

Talking wedding plans, family life and Dancing on Ice, Samia is a very entertaining and enthusiastic interviewee, and I laughed as much as she did as she regaled me with her perilous hairdressing mishaps including almost cutting Kate Ford’s fringe off during a scene, and nearly beheading Barbara Knox with an old-fashioned drier.

There is no mention of there being any consequences for what Maria has done, and while I'm not condoning her actions, could they herald a new era for her character where she doesn’t play it quite so safe? Here’s hoping.

By Emma Hynes
www.emmahynes.wordpress.com
Twitter: @ELHynes




Deirdre: A Life on Coronation Street - official ITV tribute to a soap icon. Available here.


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Samia Ghadie returns to filming at Coronation Street

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog February 2016, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria Connor, has returned to work at Coronation Street.  Samia has been away on maternity leave after giving birth to her second child.

Has anyone missed Maria while she's been away? I have to admit I haven't.

However, I would love Maria to get a really big juicy storyline because when she does, Samia Ghadie shows her acting chops and really gets stuck in.  I'm thinking back to when Maria was pregnant with Liam's baby and facing up to Carla in their battle for Liam Connor. Also, when Maria started stalking Tyrone with the letters and texts and so on.

Maria's not done much of late, and I do hope her return from maternity leave will give the actress the storyline she deserves.  I fear, however, she may return to be nothing more than the whinging, hairdressing, arm-candy for Luke once again.




Deirdre: A Life on Coronation Street - official ITV tribute to a soap icon. Available here.


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Samia Ghadie gives birth to baby boy

Congratulations to Samia Ghadie who has given birth to a baby boy.

The Coronation Street actress, who plays Maria Connor in the soap, is celebrating the arrival of her baby son with fiancé Sylvain Longchambon. The little boy was born on Thursday 24 September.

Samia, who plays Maria Connor in Coronation Street, already has a daughter, Freya.



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Samia Ghadie announces pregnancy

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog March 2015, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria Connor on Coronation Street, has announced she's pregnant with her second child.

Samia and her partner, ice-skater Sylvain Longchambon, met on the Dancing on Ice show. Samia announced last night on twitter that she's expecting their first child together. She already has a daughter Freya with her ex-husband Matthew Smith.

The news that Samia is pregnant will of course mean that she'll be taking a break from Coronation Street when she goes off on maternity leave.  This means Maria will no longer be involved in that storyline where she's... hang on, well, there's the kitchen tiles and a bit of hairdressing at Audrey's, but there really hasn't been much else for Maria going on for a very long time.  

When Samia is given a meaty role for Maria, which let's face it isn't often, she really shows her mettle, Maria grows a pair and both the actress and the character are worth watching. But for far too long Maria has been nothing more than a hair-twirling bit of background fluff and won't be missed by this fan.

Also still away on maternity leave are Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Stape) and Catherine Tyldesley (Eva Price). Paula Lane, who plays Kylie Platt, has now returned to work.

Glenda Young 
Flaming Nora Blog / Twitter 

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More Corrie contracts signed - Sophie and Maria are staying

There's a good interview with Brooke Vincent, who plays Coronation Street's Sophie Webster, in the Mirror. 

Brooke turns 21 tomorrow, Tuesday June 4 and in the interview she talks about growing up in the public eye, maintaining a relationship with her boyfriend, playing Sophie the Corrie lesbian and being protective of Helen Flanagan.

There's also a video of Brooke doing a birthday shoot, which if you like that sort of thing is the sort of thing you'll like. It's here.

The Daily Star also reports that Brooke has been given another deal to stay on Coronation Street, by which I guess that means she's had her contract renewed, or, in tabloid speak Brooke "agreed the mega-bucks deal after a meeting with the ITV soap’s boss Stuart Blackburn".

Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria Connor on Coronation Street, has reportedly signed a £100,000+ contract to stay another year on Corrie's cobbles.

The 30 year-old actress has played Maria on Coronation Street for 13 years. Ghadie's contract will ensure she continues playing her role until mid-2014.

Viewers have recently watched Maria fall in love and move in with gay character Marcus Dent. Fans watched the fall-out this week from the couple attending a friend's wedding reception, with Marcus getting flack from hiding his relationship with Maria.


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Samia Ghadie says boob job lifted her spirits

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog May 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria Connor, has confirmed she's had a boob job. She's also moved in with her Dancing on Ice partner Sylvain Longchambon.

Samia's interviewed in this week's OK Magazine and says this about Sylvain: "We’re pretty much living together now. We spend so much time with each other anyway," while her hunky beau (OK's words, not mine) added: "It seemed like the natural thing to do. I don’t have a big place in England either."

Samia also took the chance to set the record straight about those recent boob job rumours, telling OK: "Yes, I have had a boob job, but it wasn’t something that was done on a whim. After Freya was born, my boobs just disappeared. Anybody who knows me will know that it’s something I talked about having done. I wanted to feel womanly again."

After leaving her husband, Samia was going out with Corrie co-star Will Thorp, who played Chris Gray.

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