Corrie newcomer reveals she worked at Tesco until the day she landed dream job
CORONATION Street newcomer Sydney Martin has revealed she was working at Tesco before landing her dream role.
The actress, 22, has landed the role of headstrong 16-year-old Betsy who has already made an enemy of killer Joel Deering.
Viewers have watched this week as Betsy arrived on the cobbles with pal Sabrina before saving her from Joel’s clutches and realising he’s a wrong-un.
But in a shocking twist, having worked out Joel is a predator, teen Betsy began to blackmail him – even confronting him in front of his family, successfully as it happens.
Actress Sydney told The Sun: “I think it’s really interesting, having this powerful girl character, seeing her fight back, she doesn’t just let it happen she fights back straight away.
“She doesn’t know what she’s done, I love girls sticking up for girls and fighting back! She’s going to give him a run for his money.”
The star, who comes from Rossendale near Manchester, landed her role after previously auditioning for two other bit parts on the cobbles.
But after being invited back and two screen tests later, she won the role of DS Swain’s tearaway daughter – and it’s world’s away from her old life.
She said: “I initially went up for two smaller roles, back in January, which was great to get seen by Coronation Street.
“I didn’t get them but it was great to be pit in front of them twice. And then two weeks later they called and asked if I wanted to audition for a series regular and I was like yeah! That would be great!
“I got the audition through for Betsy in February and it was a two month process, went up for initial self tape and then a read through and screen tests.
“I didn’t know what I was doing but I was loving it. In this industry it can be so hard because you have to deal with so much rejection, so just to come in and do a recall, meet Vicky, who plays my mum, I just saw it as great experience. I didn’t take it as I was going to get it!”
But she did get it – but she didn’t rush to tell her parents first – instead she had something more important to do.
“I went to Tesco’s and handed in my notice first,” she said.
“Then told them. My dad was like ‘no, you shouldn’t have handed your notice in’ that was the question ‘are you sure’ have you signed the contract?
“He even said you won’t get a reference from Tesco’s now!”
Sydney is the first in her family to break into showbiz with her new role.
“I don’t know where I get my creative bones from, I was the first one to go to university out of my family, but it can be worrying for parents, for someone to say they want to go into acting because it is such an uncertain career and you really have to be a certain type of person to deal with it, you have to be resilient with it,” she said.
“Obviously for them, Coronation Street, and for me, I could not have asked for a better TV showTV show this is the first thing I’ve ever done and I could not have asked for a better first opportunity.
“They are my biggest fans. They are over the moon. I think I had my first little picture in a magazine and they bought TEN of them! They just love it.”
And with her first paycheque – she splurged on a holiday.
“My dad was like save it!” she laughed, adding: “I have just booked a holiday to Rome.
“My favourite thing to do is to go and explore a new place, I’m more of a memory person, I’ve never really been materialistic, it’s all about making more memories.”
Luckily she’ll have many of those to come on the cobbles.
Coronation Street's shock exits 2024
Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let's break down who's left the famous soap:
Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.
The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.
After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite, portrayed by Peter Ash, was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.
Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.
Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.
Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.
The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.
Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.
Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.
It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.
Show stalwart Eileen Grimshaw is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour.
She’s had to leave the Street immediately after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.