Interview in Daily Mirror
Suddenly having a newborn baby to care for is a challenging time for any young mum.
Aside from the sleepless nights and endless nappy changing, those early days can be an emotional roller coaster at the best of times.
But after the birth of her daughter Freya nearly three years ago Coronation Street star Samia Ghadie has revealed she also had to contend with a frightening lump in her breast.
The worried TV actress, who plays Maria Connor, rushed to her doctor hoping she would allay her fears, only to be told she must go for immediate tests to discover if the lump was cancerous or not.
As she talks about her cancer scare for the first time, 30-year-old Samia admits that she did start to panic as the “what ifs” raced through her mind.
“It was really scary,” she says.
“I had just had Freya and she was only three months old when suddenly I came across a lump on my breast that was like a really hard pea. It wasn’t even a case of checking my breasts, as it was just there and so very obvious. I felt so scared.
“I went to the doctor straight away and I was hoping she was going to say “oh, don’t worry”, but I was very frightened when instead she said: ‘Actually we don’t want to get caught out with things like this, you need to see a specialist’.
“To hear that was terrifying, and luckily for me I do have private health insurance so I could go that evening for a hospital scan to get it checked out.
“It was horrendous and in those few hours while I was waiting, all sorts of horrid things went through my mind. You worry so much.”
And you can understand why. While she was pregnant, her dad, Joseph, died aged 65 of oesophagus cancer.
Samia, along with her family, helped nurse him during his year-long fight before he died in a hospice.
So it was to Samia’s huge relief when the scan showed her lump was benign.
“It was a case of my hormones playing up as I was breast-feeding,” she says. “I was so relieved. I am so glad I did get it checked out and it’s made me very aware now. I check my breasts on a regular basis. It’s so important to.”
For this reason she is pleased Coronation Street bosses have decided to tackle the subject with Maria, who next month faces her own breast cancer scare in the soap.
“Because it’s so sensitive, we worked with Macmillan on the storyline as we wanted to get it right,” she says. “I know myself how it feels and how scary it is and I think a lot of women will identify with what Maria has to go through.
“As an actress, it is challenging filming harrowing scenes and I hope people will feel I have approached it sensitively.
“Maria goes through very similar emotions as I did, but it is far worse for her as she doesn’t get the results back so quickly and she really stresses out about it.”
But that is not the only issue Samia is having to face.
The hard-hitting cancer plotline paves the way for a budding romance with Maria’s best friend, Marcus, who is gay. Played by Charlie Condou, who’s gay in real life, viewers will see the pair start dating.
“Marcus finds Maria crying about her breast cancer scare and, eventually, he manages to find out what is wrong,” explains Samia.
“She is dating Jason Grimshaw but it’s Marcus who she wants to accompany her to the hospital.
“They are good friends but the lines start to get blurred. She knows he is gay but she can’t help her feelings for him.
“On paper, Jason is the best choice for her but she can’t stop her feelings for Marcus.”
The explosive storyline will, undoubtedly, become a big talking point as it raises the delicate issue of whether gay men should get romantically involved with women or not.
It certainly took Samia by surprise and she admits she was taken aback when she first discovered that Maria would fall hook, line and sinker for Marcus.
“I was completely shocked,” says the actress. “I found it weird and I didn’t want to do it at first.
“It is such a sensitive area and it was completely unexpected. But after a while, I realised this does happen in real life and I do think it is a good issue to tackle. It will get people talking and I know some people will be pleased they do get together. People stop me in the street and ask me why Maria isn’t with Marcus.”
But there will be repercussions for the couple, reveals Samia. “It is going to affect Jason heavily,” she adds. “The whole street turns against them. They are happy initially, but long term, I am not so sure. With Maria, there is never a happy ending. At some point I will be crying again!”
Life has mirrored art for Samia over the breast scare plotline and also in romance – she is dating actor Will Thorp, who played her screen boyfriend Chris Gray. Despite splitting in the soap, in real life they are happily settled.
Before they got together a year ago, Samia had split from husband, Matthew, father of Freya, who turns three next month.
Samia has never talked about her new romance or her divorce and still won’t – but she confirms she is “very happy” as she discusses being a single mum.
Much to her relief, Freya is showing signs of becoming Britain’s next top gymnastic champion rather than following in her mum’s footsteps.
“She watched the Olympics and she now wants to be a gymnast,” chuckles Samia.
“I do think she will be a performer – well, her nursery is convinced she will be! She is always doing pop routines for everyone. But I would never be a pushy mum. I would actually try to deter her, as being an actress is very tough.
“I love being a mum and it gives you a totally different perspective on life. My priorities have completely changed since having Freya. I look at all her lovely features like her tiny fingers and I just can’t believe she is mine.”
With a child waking her up early each morning, Samia says her partying days are very much over,
“I love my job on Corrie so much, but when I have finished, I just want to rush home and spend time with Freya,” she adds. “At weekends, I love nothing more than doing girly things with her and chilling out together.
“When you are a mum, you know you have got far bigger fish to fry than worrying about the little things.
“I used to be such a worrier but now I don’t give anything a second thought.”
The actress puts her petite size 8 frame down to her fast metabolism and regular workouts in her home gym.
“I use my treadmill at home, but I also think I have inherited good genes,” she admits. “My dad had a slight frame, too. I think I take after the Middle Eastern side of the family.”
Yet working out is the last thing on Samia’s mind at the moment as she recovers from a recent operation on her right wrist which left it heavily bandaged.
“I can’t wait to be firing on all cylinders again,” she says. “An operation on your wrist is never nice. But I am fine.”
In July, Samia celebrated turning 30 with a big party for family and friends rather than getting all gloomy about entering her fourth decade.
“I am enjoying my 30s,” she says. “It is not as scary as I thought it would be and I do feel more confident.
“You don’t take yourself seriously. You don’t feel like you have to be a certain person and, as I’ve got older and become a mum, I have got a lot less insecure about my looks. It’s more heightened because of the job I do and in the past there have been times when I have, but nowadays I have got more to worry about than the way I look!”
Would she ever consider going under the surgeon’s knife?
“It’s not something I have ever thought of but I guess you can never say never,” she replies honestly.
Having starred in the soap since the age of 17, has she ever considered quitting?
“I never thought I would still be here if I am honest,” she laughs. “I was happy to do three months and so to have been in Corrie for more than 12 years is incredible.
“I feel like I have grown up with Maria as I was 17 when I joined and now I am 30.
“It is a great job to have and I love it. There are always great storylines and I have got some lovely friends on set.
“I am happy to take each day as it comes. Besides, with the current climate you would be silly to leave.
“I don’t know what I would do that’s better than what I am doing right now. It’s brilliant fun to be part of such an amazing show. I am really happy.”
Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe
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Originally Posted by tammyy2j
