the ITV soap aged eight, then was cast in her iconic role 10 years later. Having appeared in Heartbeat, Doctors, Cracked and some kids TV shows, Samia's big break came in 2000 when she beat off stiff competition to win the role of dog kennel worker Maria - reports Mirror Online. READ MORE: Carol Vorderman's wetsuit selfie sends followers into a frenzy Samia was up against several rivals, including Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh and Hear'Say star Suzanne Shaw.
She said: "I thought I'd do my three months and then I'd be off. I was a jobbing actress when I joined and was really pleased to have a job for three months.
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