Tina O’Brien has shared a heartbreaking family update this afternoon as she informed social media followers her dad has died. The actress is best known for playing the role of Sarah Platt on the cobbles, a role she has had since 1999.
The actress marked 25 years on the show last year after making her first appearance when she was 16 years old. The role has been on-and-off over the years, but she has been a permanent fixture on our screens for over a decade.
As a long-standing Coronation Street actress, Tina has amassed a large social media following of over half a million users and regularly shares updates.
She shared a moving message this morning to Instagram Stories; against a black background, she wrote: “I’ve been a little quiet on here. My dad recently died. I haven’t quite known how to put it into words.
“My heart is very heavy, but I’m so grateful he is no longer suffering. Thank you to everyone who has held me steady through this difficult time. I love you. You mean the world to me.” The post was accompanied by a rainbow, heart and prayer emoji.
Tina has shared other glimpses of her personal life. In July she was pictured with her partner for the first time as she attended the wedding of her on-screen brother Jack P Shepherd and his long-term partner Hanni Treweek.
The actress was pictured hand-in-hand with millionaire and interior designer Adam Fadle. Their outing marked Tina’s first public relationship since her split with her ex-husband, personal trainer Adam Crofts.
Tina has a daughter with former Coronation Street co-star Ryan Thomas, called Scarlett. The two were in a relationship from 2003 to 2009 and had their daughter in 2008.
To celebrate her daughter’s birthday last month, Tina wrote on social media: “Happy birthday to my little chicken, my darling girl. I still remember putting the clocks back before heading to bed, heavy, pregnant, and way overdue, wondering if tonight would be the night.
“And when it was… the moment I met you, it felt like I’d already known you forever. You’ve brought laughter, light, and magic into my life every single day since. I’m so proud of the incredible young woman you’re becoming.”
The actress is always involved in the centre of Coronation Street’s major storylines. Some of the most dramatic ones have included Richard Hillman’s reign of terror and the rollercoaster relationship with Jason Grimshaw, which explored the subject of teenage pregnancy.