Coronation Street’s Samia Longchambon has confirmed an intriguing new storyline for her character.
Samia has played Maria Connor since 2000. Mum to Liam (Charlie Wrenshall) and partner to Gary Windass (Mikey North), Maria’s life in Weatherfield has never really been peaceful and stress-free.
This year, Maria was at the centre of a heartbreaking storyline that focused on Liam’s mental health. After being relentlessly bullied by Mason (Luca Toolan), Dylan (Liam McCheyne) and their gang, Liam lost all hope and started researching ways he could end his life.
Thankfully, Maria and Gary found Liam before anything happened. Afterwards, the young character opened up about the ordeal Mason and Dylan put him through, eventually revealing Mason had threatened him with a knife.
It led to Mason facing time behind bars for the crime. In recent weeks though, he made his way back to Weatherfield and has since been trying to adapt to normal life.
With Mason previously expressing his desire to save up his money earnt from Speed Daal so he can move closer to the cobbles, it certainly increases the chance of Maria becoming troubled at constantly seeing the teenager.
Recently, actress Samia Longchambon reflected on Mason’s return and confirmed her alter-ego and the young villain will be involved in a huge storyline later this year.
‘[Mason’s return] is going to ruffle Maria’s feathers once again because she doesn’t want him anywhere near Liam. That’s going to lead onto something quite big later in the year, but I can’t tell you any more than that!’, she told Digital Spy during a photoshoot for this year’s Inside Soap Awards.
‘Maria has got a really good heart. I think she would love to find it in her heart to let Mason have his redemption. But what he’s put Liam through has been so bad. I don’t think she will ever fully forgive him for what he’s done.’
This year for the Inside Soap Awards, Samia has secured herself a nomination for Best Actress.
‘It feels amazing to be among the nominees’, she said.
‘I just think everyone is deserving. People who aren’t nominated are always deserving as well, because everyone’s working as hard as each other. It feels really nice to be nominated this year because of the storyline with Liam and the bullying. It’s nice that’s getting acknowledged.’
Amid this narrative with Liam and Mason, Maria’s jealousy levels have been tested as a result of Gary and ex Sarah (Tina O’Brien) growing close again.
‘Maria and Gary have had their ups and downs but I think they’re always going to’, Samia explained, pondering over their relationship.
‘Since Maria has been to Sarah and told her to back off, hopefully that’s going to work. Although how long for, I don’t know!’
‘It’s going to be interesting to see what happens.’
