Coronation Street star Sally Ann Matthews has revealed that her distant cousin is none other than her former co-star Amanda Barrie, who played Alma Halliwell on the ITV soap for two decades. The 55-year-old actress, best known for portraying Jenny Bradley, made the discovery while working with Ancestry to trace her family history.
Matthews' Journey on Coronation Street
Matthews first appeared on the cobbles as Jenny Bradley in 1986. Jenny was the foster daughter of Rita Tanner (Barbara Knox) and the daughter of notorious villain Alan Bradley (Mark Eden), who met his end after being struck by a tram in Blackpool. After returning to the soap in 2015, Jenny embarked on a romance with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) before marrying Johnny Connor (Richard Hawley). Their partnership ended tragically in 2021 when Johnny drowned during the sinkhole disaster.
Jenny later became involved with serial killer Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) and used stolen funds to secretly purchase the Rovers Return. However, after being conned by Daisy Midgeley (Charlotte Jordan) and her mother Christina Boyd (Amy Robbins), Jenny left Weatherfield in October 2025.
Discovering a Famous Relative
Speaking candidly about her departure, Matthews told the Mirror: "Every year when your contract comes round, there's that question, 'Am I enjoying it?' If I am, I say, 'Yes, I'd like to stay.' When you come to a point where you're not enjoying it, you say no." She added: "I'm 55 now, I don't want to waste my time doing stuff that I'm not enjoying with people that I am not enjoying doing it with."
While researching her heritage, Matthews traveled to Ashton-under-Lyne to meet a local historian, who revealed that she is distantly related to Amanda Barrie. Speaking to Radio Times, Matthews said: "Waiting for my Corrie cousin to come around the corner was torture - I was praying it was someone I liked! The joy when I saw it was Amanda was overwhelming and I thought, 'Well, of course it is, that all makes sense now.'"
Shared Traits and Treasured Gifts
Matthews noted that she and Barrie rarely had scenes together but knew each other well from rehearsal rooms. "I think we share a naughty, slightly bonkers streak," she said. She also revealed that a jug Barrie gave her when she was 18 has been a treasured possession on every kitchen shelf she has ever had, adding: "The fact that the gift ... has been on every kitchen shelf I've ever had - and was one of my most treasured possessions even before I knew - clearly means something."
Coronation Street airs weekday nights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
