Maria and Marcus have become best friends, but are they actually falling in love? After sharing a kiss, they’re both confused about their feelings, because Marcus is gay. Samia Ghadie, who plays hairdresser Maria, tells TV Choice more…

Can you understand how Maria and Marcus would start to have feelings for one another?
Yes, I can. It’s never happened to me, so I can’t fully relate to it, but I can understand it from Maria’s point of view. She’s fallen in love with her friend, Marcus. If he was straight it would be perfect, but she’s kind of always pushed it to the back of her mind. It’s not a lust thing. It’s not like she really fancies him, she genuinely loves him. It goes beyond friendship.

What do you think Maria sees in Marcus?
They get on really well. It’s a very easy relationship, there’s no effort, which is quite hard to find. And he’s also a brilliant father to Liam. That’s one of the main factors I think. She’s got that family unit there with him.

You’ve been in Corrie since you were 17, so you’ve known the cast for ages, some of them even before you joined the soap…
Literally, a lot of us have grown up together. Jane Danson [Leanne] is one of my closest friends. And we worked out the other day we’ve known each other more than 20 years. That’s mental — it makes me feel old. And Andy Whyment [Kirk] — I ‘ve known him, 24 years. Alan Halsall [Tyrone] is similar. We’ve all grown up together.

Do you remember your first audition when you were starting out?
The first one I remember was the first part I got, which was in Cracker, when I was 11. That would have been 1994. That was playing Robbie Coltrane’s daughter’s friend, and I was very young. My scenes were with Robbie, but I didn’t realise how great an actor he was or how well-known he was at the time. So thankfully I wasn’t starstuck. I would be now, though.

Around the same age, you actually lost out on a part in Corrie. What was that role?
Do you remember Des Barnes? He had a girlfriend who had a daughter, and it’s quite ironic really, because the part went to Emily Aston, who’s Sam Aston’s [Chesney] sister. Me and Emily would always go for auditions, we were at the same drama classes, and she’s a gorgeous girl. She’s lovely, and she got it. So I was really pleased for Emily. Looking back now, I’m glad I didn’t get it. But I remember crying on the sofa at home, saying, ‘What’s wrong with me?’

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David Collins