Coronation Street star Sydney Martin has celebrated a year of playing the character Betsy Swain on the ITV soap. The actress has appeared on the soap since June 2024, after initially applying for two smaller roles at the beginning of 2024.
Sydney’s role in Coronation Street is her first televised acting role, before landing the role of Betsy she was working in Tesco. Since appearing on the Cobbles, she has become a popular cast member and has been involved in a number of major storylines.
Over the weekend, Sydney took to Instagram to celebrate the anniversary. She wrote: “1 whole year of Betsy Swain, so incredibly lucky & grateful. I love my job xxx.”
The picture posted by the soap star showed her holding a Victoria sponge cake with the number one candle in. Co-stars were quick to respond to the milestone. On-screen mum of Betsy Swain, Vicky Myers, commented: “Happy Corrieversary Sydney Kidney!
“What an absolute joy it is to be part of your on screen family. Thank you for being so wonderful and for always making us laugh. Enjoy the cake! Mama Swain.”
The response from the Lisa Swain actress received 722 likes and several comments. Alisson wrote: “Corrie couldn’t have put a better pairing together to play mother and daughter. The on and off screen relationship that you both have is so beautiful.”
Emma agreed: “@vicksmyers aww, I love how cute you two are together in real life.” A fan of the soap enjoyed the comment, writing “MAMA SWAIN” CATCH ME CRYING IN PUBLIC.” A second moved fan said: “@vicksmyers mama swain, awww I’m crying.”
The same sentiment continued as Margherita replied: “You two make me cry every time. God bless you both for the joy you bring on our screen.” Sally Carman, who plays Abi Webster on the show said “Happy Corrieversary to youuuu!”
Upon appearing on the soap for the first time last year, the character was immediately thrown into the thick of the action as she blackmailed the villainous Joel Deering. Betsy has continued to cause trouble on the Cobbles since, although in recent months her more caring side has shone through.
Particularly when Betsy offered to loan Carla her inheritance from Becky which would cover half of the cost. The transplant went ahead. Away from the screen, Sydney couldn’t be further away from her troublesome teen character.
Although she is playing a 16-year-old in the show, Sydney is actually aged 22 and the soap star told the ECHO and other press earlier last year how she is grateful to be older than her character.
She said: “To come in on the Lauren [Bolton] storyline, which is such an important, massive storyline and to be a little bit older and understand the serious topics it’s dealing with more has been nice.”
She added: “It is weird though, don’t get me wrong, because [Betsy] is six years younger than I am. She joked: “I mean, I layer on the moisturiser.”
Sydney has formed a particularly close relationship with Vicky, who she said has gone out of her way to support her since they first met. She said: “In another universe, we were definitely mother and daughter. We’re so similar.”