Samia Longchambon has spent 22 years on-screen in Coronation Street meaning she has gone through many milestones while working on the ITV soap star. From welcoming her two children to marrying husband Sylvain Longchambon and next, turning 40.
The Eccles-born actress will turn 40 on Wednesday, July 13. She joined Corrie in 2000 as Maria Sutherland - now Windass - when the character was a kennelmaid at the family-run Sutherland's Kennels before she agreed to marry Tyrone Dobbs when he proposed atop Blackpool Tower.
But a big birthday bash appears to be out of the question as Samia has revealed she scrapped plans to celebrate in a huge way. Speaking to OK! the soap star shared how she had planned a big party but scrapped the idea after her anxiety about hosting reached fever pitch.
Samia has been open about her anxiety struggles in the past. Last year she revealed on Loose Women that she found herself receiving an asthma diagnosis as a child when she was actually suffering from crippling anxiety. She was applauded last year when she revealed she had achieved a diploma in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
But as she approaches her milestone birthday, she has finally taken ownership of her mental health and is putting her happiness first. "I know with the job I do this sounds like I’m contradicting myself but I hate being the centre of attention and I feel too nervous to have a party," she told OK! during a big birthday photoshoot with hubby Sylvain, who she met when taking part in ITV's Dancing On Ice.
"I thought at one point I might have a private dinner and hire out a room for my closest friends. But even then, I didn’t want to leave anyone out and upset them. The thought of it all became too stressful, so I had a really nice spa weekend with five of my close friends instead – Jane Danson [who plays Leanne Battersby in Corrie] was there and my bridesmaids, and my friend Kim. It was really nice."
Earlier this week Samia gave a glimpse at another part of her birthday celebrations after former ice dancer turned personal trainer Sylvain whisked her away on a surprise, child-free break. "The last weekend of my 30s has been well spent," she wrote alongside a montage of moments from her time in what appeared to be a fully-equipped treehouse.
Sylvain was seen pouring his wife a glass of champagne as they stood on the balcony of their temporary home in the middle of a secluded forest. The loved-up pair, who have been married since 2016 and share six-year-old son Yves, were then seen in a series of selfie as they soaked up the sun during their picture-perfect couple of days away.
The video ended with a picture of Eccles-born Samia smiling for the camera with a glass of wine, sat outside in the garden of what looked like a country manor. "Thank you for our surprise getaway @slongchambon it was so perfect!" she added in the caption of her post.
But it was Samia's age that caught her fans' attention thanks to her ageless look. And the yoga fanatic credits her youthful looks to her Lebanese heritage on her father Joseph's side. "My dad passed away when he was 65, he didn’t really have wrinkles," she told OK! "I care about my appearance and I’m lucky I don’t have any wrinkles but I can tell I look older in the mornings – my face takes longer to wake up. And I have to get my roots done every month to fend off the greys.
“Being on Corrie for so long has made my life go faster, as we always film six weeks ahead – we shoot Christmas scenes in October – so it’s not 40 the number I’m apprehensive about, as I’m still 20 in my head! Still, growing old is a privilege and I’m really happy with where I am in my life."
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