Samia Longchambon finds it "really strange" that women love Gary Windass.
The 37-year-old star’s alter-ego Maria Connor is in a relationship with Mikey North’s calculated character, who has already bumped off two people this year, and she thinks female viewers are "crazy" for being so infatuated with Gary.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz and other media, she said: "That’s what I find really strange, whenever we’re out in public together women love him.
"I’m like, ‘Are you all crazy?’
"They go mad for you. They’re like, ‘We love you,Gary.’ "
Mikey joked: "They’re all of a certain generation, and that was my mum and my auntie to be fair."
Samia has portrayed Maria on the ITV soap since 2000, and she admits it is "quite special" to have played the same character for her whole adult life.
She added: "It’s really quite special as an actor to stay with a character this long. It’s my whole adult life, I’ve been on it since I was 17.
"To grow up alongside the character you’re playing is quite special and quite a unique experience.
"And to still be loving it as much as I am after all these years, I just feel really honoured and privileged.
"It’s such a special place to work."
Samia recently teased ‘Corrie’ fans that Mikey will have a big role in the ‘Coronation Street’ Christmas episodes.
She said: "It was actually really nice doing night shoots because it made it all feel completely different.
"It does get you into the Christmas spirit at first but when you have been filming it for three weeks everyone is like: ‘Right, Christmas – we’ve been there, done that!’
"I think I got off quite lightly. Mikey North did the majority of the work but it looked amazing and from what everyone has said about the other Christmas scenes, it was really good."
Weatherfield will be rocked over the festive period when an armed siege takes place in the street’s Winter Wonderland, and Gary will be heavily involved.
Samia added: "There is not one particular moment that I can pick because I love working with Mikey North and I am really enjoying doing the scenes when it’s just Gary and Maria and we are getting our teeth into it.
"I also love this new Sarah vs Maria storyline and we’ve got lots more stuff coming up as well. Everything as a whole has been really fun and exciting."
Samia Longchambon finds it ‘really strange’ women love Gary Windass
