Coronation Street star Tina O'Brien has been flooded with compliments as she was reminded over her first big award win when she was 17. Fans best know the actress for playing Sarah Barlow - nee Platt - in the ITV soap having made her debut on the cobbles back in 1999 when she was just 16.
She took over the role from actress Lynsay King and Tina was three years older than her character. The following year Tina won Best Newcomer at the National Television Awards and later at the TV Quick Awards. And that wasn't the end of her award-winning as earlier in the year, Sarah's pregnancy with Bethany Platt won the soap star Best Storyline at the British Soap Awards
But it was the night she won Best Newcomer at the NTA's that Tina, now 38, has found herself reflecting on. She took to Instagram after diving into the archives where she found a picture of herself attending the star-studded bash.
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"Hello from little me," she began to type alongside the images taken by the event's awaiting photographers. Found this old picture from when I’d just turned 17 and rocked up to the prestigious @officialntas wearing this!!! It was the year 2000. The purple top had delicate diamanté straps and I was also wearing a pair of Miss sixty flares with poppers up the sides (god I wish I still had them, not that they’d fit me now).
"You might be able to spot my diamanté arm tattoo.. yes I was 00’s." She then started reo reminisce about her big moment when she bagged her first major award. "I was incredibly fortunate to win best newcomer that evening for @coronationstreet which was presented to me by @dermotoleary I think.
"I gave a rubbish speech but was just glad I didn’t faint or throw up. Lovely @alissinc looked after me all evening (making sure I wasn’t getting into trouble) Ahhh memories. But seriously jeans to the NTA’s?"
Nikki Sanderson, who played Sarah's best friend Candice Stowe in Corrie, was among the first to reply, writing: "Awww I remember this." And it appears Denise Welch, who also starred in the ITV soap as Natalie Horrocks, also had a story to share, writing: " That was the year when Judy Finnergans boobs came out!!!!" alongside a string of crying laughing emojis.
And while it also reminded fans of their own fashion choices more than 20 years ago, they also couldn't help but comment on Tina's age and how she doesn't appear to have changed. @lizkeenan97 commented: "What an achievement for you at 17 !!you look even better now and your acting is phenomenal."
@hannahadele2022 said: "I have never known anyone age so well." @gouldberg85 wrote: "You haven't aged a day since lol." @90gracap shared: "You don't look any different haha you was my favourite in corro." @lesley_j84 posted: "You haven’t changed one bit." @lizzyj212 replied: "You don't look any older. Still stunning."
Others couldn't help but think of Sarah's daughter, Scarlett, who she shares with her former Corrie co-star ex Ryan Thomas, and how much she appears to take after her mum. @lisahorn192 said: "Look like your Scarlett." @v4l4t35 wrote: "Omg it's just scarlet with different hair."
And Scarlett is becoming more like her mum as she follows in both of her parents' footsteps. It was announced back in February that the teen will be one of the cast members of the new Waterloo Road when it makes a big return to the BBC. The BBC One school drama is ponce again being filmed in Manchester and will return to TV screens this year. And she'll have some company on set as Scarlett's uncle Adam is making a return to the series as Donte Charles. Not only that, his niece will be playing his on-screen daughter, Izzy Charles, when Waterloo Road returns.
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