Coronation Street's Sydney Martin told Tesco about Swain daughter job before family

Coronation Street's newest star Sydney Martin has told how she brilliantly let her former employers know about her first-ever TV role before her family. The 22-year-old, from Rossendale, has already popped up in the ITV soap, simply referred to as Sabrina Adetiba's mate.

Her appearance came after Sabrina was found by Joel Deering in a state of distress outside the police station, having learnt that her brother had been arrested. Quick to offer his help, Joel handed her his business card and told her to give him a call.

The solicitor, who fans know is a wrong'un as he's behind the disappearance and presumed murder of missin Lauren Bolton, later conveniently bumped into Sabrina in the precinct, where they both had a coffee. Joel then tempted Sabrina with alcohol as he poured some into her coffee and pretended to pour some into his cup but he didn't.

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Seemingly trying to impress Sabrina, who was a bit of a love rival to Lauren when she first arrived in Weatherfield, Joel told her she reminded him of an ex, adding that he was "punching" with his former partner, leaving the teen flattered. However, Sabrina's mate headed over and pointed out Joel was a creep, warning she should steer clear.

She took his card and pretended to chuck it in the bin, only to keep it for herself. And later, viewers seemingly saw why as the currently unknown newcomer confronted Joel and tried to blackmail him, warning she has a "big gob" and would expose his creepy behaviour.

It's now been confirmed that the new teen is Betsy, the daughter of DS Lisa Swain who is being played by Sydney Mason in her first major TV role. Corrie fans first learnt DS Swain had a daughter during an emotional heart-to-heart with Carla Connor, revealing the pair had been at loggerheads ever since the death of Swain's partner, and Sydney's other mum, Becky.

Speaking about the new character for the first time, Sydney, who is 22 but playing 16-year-old Betsy, told the Manchester Evening News and other press: "So I had a really big description through when I first got [the role], she's feisty, she's cocky but she's such a smart cookie.

"She's so intelligent which I definitely think comes from her mum and she's very street-wise. She has had to fend for herself a little bit because Lisa's gone back to work and they're having to deal with grief together. As the weeks go on, we do get to see a fun, manipulative side to her."

Syndey, from Rossendale, isn't from an acting family and told us how she had dreams of becoming a zoo keeper before getting into drama in sixth form. "I loved doing shows as a kid. I was really shy but when I was on the stage, I loved it. I didn't know it was a career you could go into which is silly because people do it. But I got into sixth form and had the most amazing drama teachers who I owe everything to and I was like, why not give it a shot."

She later got into drama school, with much of her training taking place during the Covid pandemic before her graduation last year. "I grafted and somehow I got here. I don't know how," Sydney added.

Speaking about how she did actually get the role of Betsy, the newcomer explained: "In January this year, I went up for two smaller roles for a couple of episodes which was great. To get seen by Corrie is fabulous! I didn't get them but it was great to be put in front of them twice but literally two weeks after, they were like, 'Do you want to audition for a series regular?' and I was like, 'Yeah!"

"I got the audition for Betsy in February and it was a two-month process. It was quite a long process." She told how she did a self-tape before joining Swain actress Vicky Myers for some read-throughs and two screen tests before being offered the role. "I was like, 'I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm loving it!" Sydney laughed.

Sydney got the call about landing the role of Betsy while preparing to settle down and watch Pitch Perfect 3 with her flatmates. "I got a phone call, ran into the corner of a flat and was like, 'It's going to be a no, keep watching. Just let me have my moment!' But my agent phoned me and said, 'Go hand in your notice!' I was doing six days a week at Tesco which is quite the career change!"

On telling her parents, Sydney admitted: "I did go to Tesco and hand my notice in first!" before sharing how her dad was concerned she'd quit her job and whether she'd need a reference from the supermarket chain. She added: "They were overjoyed. They always say they don't know where I got my creative bones from because they're in completely different careers... I could not have asked for a better first opportunity. They're by biggest fans. They're over the moon. I had my first little picture in a magazine and they've got about ten of them."