She should have stuck with Tyrone...
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She should have stuck with Tyrone...
Coronation Street actress Samia Smith has spoken about filming an upcoming sex attack on her character Maria Connor.
The plot will see Maria attempting to close an Underworld deal with Frank Foster (Andrew Lancel) by visiting his house. However, the dark scenes will then see her attacked by the businessman.
"It's all been very dramatic. It was pretty tough and there have been plenty of tears. Maria's a tough cookie though," Smith told The Mirror. "She'll be fine. Her little boy Liam is alright, she's got a new boyfriend and I am sure it will make her stronger.
"The way the director shot it is quite graphic. Even the crew were flinching a bit because they didn't like to see me being treated like that. I had to fight Andrew off - and he's quite strong is Andrew! He's so lovely though and it was tough for him, too."
She continued: "It was the first day we had actually worked together and I'd only met him briefly before. Then the second scene we filmed was Frank trying to sexually assault Maria."
Explaining how the attack comes about, the actress went on to reveal that Maria will be left unsure if she should tell her sister-in-law Carla or new boyfriend Chris Gray.
"Maria is in a Catch-22 situation and everything is resting on her clinching the deal," she said. "She goes to his house but doesn't tell Chris her boyfriend she's going alone without Carla, and then Foster assaults her when she won't 'be nice' to him.
"The next day at Underworld she doesn't know whether to tell Carla what happened because she doesn't want to risk the deal but she also wants him to get his comeuppance. She can't tell Chris because she doesn't want him to think badly of her because she went round all dressed up knowing full well she was meant to charm him... so will he say she was asking for it?"
However, Smith added that playing a rape victim in a previous role meant that she could draw from research she had already completed.
"That still happens so much when girls are raped or sexually attacked and they are too scared to go to the police because they think that by dressing in a certain way that's what will be said," she added. "But no girl is ever asking for it. There are still lots of girls scared to report these things so it would be good if there could be a helpline up at the end of the episode. I hope I do justice to real victims.
"When I was 17, I was in Heartbeat and my character got raped. It was really hard-hitting. Before that I'd watched a lot of documentaries about rape victims, so I could draw on that again."
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Samia Smith has said that she will always be grateful for the opportunities that she has had starring in Coronation Street.
PA reports that the actress, who has portrayed Maria Connor in the Weatherfield soap for 11 years, told an audience at the launch of the Home Heat Helpline's winter campaign that she never forgets how lucky she has been to have a successful regular job.
Smith explained: "I think it's just all sorts of luck and circumstance that get you to where you are now. I suppose everything happens for a reason.
"I don't take it for granted at all. Fortunately I'm in a position where I don't need to worry about my fuel bills, but never say never... if I wasn't in Corrie I'd be a jobbing actress, struggling!"
She added: "When I see dramas on the telly that I really enjoy watching I have a moment where I think, 'Oh that could be nice', but Corrie's been brilliant and I can't complain at all with the storylines I've been given.
"It's every actor's dream to be given challenging stories so I'm happy there."
Coronation Street's upcoming sex attack scenes were so "graphic" they reduced Samia Smith to tears.
The actress - whose alter-ego Maria Connor is subject to a brutal assault by new businessman Frank Foster (Andrew Lancel) when she attempts to land a big deal for her boss Carla Connor (Alison King) - admitted even the crew were "flinching" while the scenes were being shot.
She explained: "It's all been very dramatic. It was pretty tough and there have been plenty of tears. The way the director shot it is quite graphic. Even the crew were flinching a bit because they didn't like to see me being treated like that. I had to fight Andrew off - and he's quite strong is Andrew!
"He's so lovely though and it was tough for him, too. It was the first day we had actually worked together and I'd only met him briefly before. Then the second scene we filmed was Frank trying to sexually assault Maria."
Despite the tough time Maria has gone through during her years on Coronation Street - including being widowed after just eight months of marriage, bedding her husband's killer and giving birth to a stillborn baby - Samia thinks it would be "boring" to play a happy character.
She added: "I trust the writers. I can't complain at what I'm given because it's always really challenging. The trials and tribulations have been really interesting to play and it would get boring if she was always happy."
Corrie beauty Samia Smith may have her hands full already, starring in a hit soap and bringing up daughter Freya, but she also hopes to find time to hit the books.
The actress, who plays single mum Maria Connor, revealed she's always regretted not being able to complete her studies in psychology after joining the soap 11 years ago.
"It's a little niggle I've always got that I want to do my Open University and finish my psychology course off," she said.
"I was at college when I started Corrie and because it's quite demanding and a full-time job I couldn't finish it."
Samia, who's recently been filming gruelling scenes for an upcoming sex attack storyline, added: "I think it would help me with my acting. It would, definitely."
The 28-year-old - who is currently supporting the Home Heat Helpline's winter campaign to help low-income households save money on energy bills - said she's loving her challenging storylines on Corrie.
There is, however, one TV show Samia would be happy to give it all up for.
"I'm addicted to 24 so if Jack Bauer calls, then I'll be off Corrie I'm afraid. A nice Mancunian girl at CTU, that'd be great," she joked.
"But I don't think they're doing any more 24s, so I think Corrie's safe."
Jack Bauer would have been handy in that tram crash though.
Samia Smith has said that she does not want to offend the Coronation Street audience with her upcoming sexual assault plot.
The 28-year-old actress, who portrays Maria Connor in the ITV1 soap, insisted that she is "hyper-aware" of the responsibility she has with the "hard-hitting" storyline.
Next month, the fictional single mum will be attacked and raped by newcomer Frank Foster in her home.
She told PA: "A few years ago my first kind of hard-hitting storyline was when Maria had the stillborn baby and it sort of makes you really hyper-aware that other people have been through it, so you kind of want to do it justice.
"It's the same with this one really. Sexual assault is a very serious issue, so I want to do it justice and hopefully not offend people who have been sexually assaulted."
The star also admitted that filming the disturbing scenes alongside former Bill actor Andrew Lancel has been "a bit tricky".
Smith added: "I think he's obviously really enjoying the challenge of it but it's also a bit tricky coming in and playing an instant baddie.
"They are long hours, they're 12 hour days that we do so it's tiring but it's sort of exhilarating as well because you're getting your script and when you've done it, hopefully you're going to be proud of what you've done. It's a really important storyline as well. I think it's nice to tackle hard-hitting topics."
Coronation Street star Samia Smith has confirmed that she will be staying with the soap for at least another year.
The actress, who plays hairdresser Maria Connor, told the Manchester Evening News that she recently landed a new deal with the ITV1 show and is pleased with what the future holds.
Speaking of Maria's forthcoming storylines, Smith commented: "I've just signed up for another year, which is exciting. I think there's going to be lots of drama for her."
She added: "You'll have watch out for her love life."
Earlier this year, Maria was tipped to be left heartbroken in a future plot as her boyfriend Chris Gray will apparently reunite with estranged wife Cheryl before leaving the street with her.
Other reports have stated that the development comes after Chris is diagnosed with a brain tumour.
In February, Smith pledged her future to Coronation Street by explaining that she had no plans to leave the soap.
She said at the time: "I don't take it for granted at all… When I see dramas on the telly that I really enjoy watching I have a moment where I think, 'Oh that could be nice', but Corrie's been brilliant and I can't complain at all with the storylines I've been given. It's every actor's dream to be given challenging stories so I'm happy there."
Smith has been part of the Coronation Street cast since 2000.
Coronation Street star Samia Smith has revealed that there are big storylines planned for her character Maria Connor over the next 12 months.
The actress recently signed a new deal with the ITV1 soap, which will keep her in Weatherfield for another year.
Speaking on Lorraine about life at Coronation Street, Smith commented: "It's brilliant - I never get bored. Maria is always in the more gritty drama side of Corrie, rather than the comedy side. That's lovely to be involved in, but it's also more challenging to do the dramatic stuff."
The 29-year-old said that she is thrilled over her new contract as "there's some really exciting stuff coming up" for Maria.
Asked whether that was her main motivation for renewing her Coronation Street deal, she replied: "Yeah. It always is - if you know you're going to be involved in some great storylines, then there's absolutely no reason to leave."
She added: "It's perfect - you get to act all year round. That's really unusual for an actor."
Maria's current Coronation Street plot sees her facing heartbreak as her boyfriend Chris Gray is seriously ill. Will Thorp, who plays the character, will leave the show later this year.
Not keen on the character but really not keen on the actress, sorry Samia :(
Samia Smith has said that it was a "no-brainer" to renew her Coronation Street contract.
Earlier in the summer, the actress confirmed that she had signed up for another year in the ITV1 serial, teasing that there is "lots of drama" to come for Maria Connor.
Smith told Star magazine that she had not been nervous about finding out if she would be given a new contract by bosses.
"I'm quite chilled out and I sort of knew what they had planned for my character long-term," she said. "So it was a bit of a no-brainer to stay, really."
Teasing her upcoming plots, the 29-year-old told the magazine: "There's something really quite exciting on the horizon, but it's top-secret I'm afraid. But it might involve a man."
Smith quipped: "The trouble is, Maria's had everyone on the Street apart from Norris."
Coronation Street star Samia Ghadie has promised that her character Maria Connor will be involved in "explosive" scenes in 2012.
Maria will be among the Weatherfield residents who have a big role to play when evil Frank Foster (Andrew Lancel) stands trial for raping Carla Connor (Alison King) early next year.
The hairdresser has first hand experience of Frank's nasty side as he previously tried to force himself on her during an informal business meeting at his home.
Ghadie, who is mum to 2-year-old Freya, told OK Extra: "Since coming back from maternity leave, I haven't been involved in anything too demanding. I've been able to spend quite a bit of quality time with Freya.
"It's all going to kick off next year, when Maria gets involved in Frank's rape trial. There will be some explosive viewing."
She continued: "I've just signed for another year, so you'll be seeing plenty more of Maria! I love the show and I've been given some great storylines. I'm not thinking about anything else - it doesn't feel like the right time to leave at the moment."
Coronation Street fans have seen Frank grow closer to Sally Webster (Sally Dynevor) in recent weeks, sparking fears that she could be his next target.