Former Coronation Street actress Sally Ann Matthews, known for playing Jenny Bradley, has revealed that she is distantly related to another beloved soap star: Amanda Barrie, who played Alma Halliwell on the cobbles for 20 years. The 55-year-old actress discovered the family link while researching her roots with Ancestry.
Discovery of Family Connection
Working with Ancestry, Sally Ann Matthews traveled to Ashton-under-Lyne to meet with a local historian, who revealed that she was distantly related to her former co-star 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.'"
Jenny Bradley's Storyline
Matthews first arrived in Weatherfield as Jenny Bradley in 1986. Jenny was the foster daughter of Rita Tanner (Barbara Knox) and the daughter of villain Alan Bradley (Mark Eden), who famously died after being hit by a tram in Blackpool. After returning to the soap in 2015, Jenny dated Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) before marrying Johnny Connor (Richard Hawley). Their relationship ended in 2021 when Johnny drowned during the sinkhole disaster. Jenny later briefly dated serial killer Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) and used money he stole from Carla Connor (Alison King) to secretly buy the Rovers Return.
Exit from the Show
Jenny bid farewell to Weatherfield in October 2025 after being scammed by Daisy Midgeley (Charlotte Jordan) and her mother Christina Boyd (Amy Robbins). Reflecting on her exit, 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."
Shared Traits and Memories
Matthews noted that she and Barrie rarely had scenes together but knew each other well from rehearsals. She said: "We rarely had scenes together but, because of the way we worked back then, we were all in the rehearsal room together and knew everyone really well. I think we share a naughty, slightly bonkers streak." She also mentioned that a jug Amanda gave her when she was 18 has been a treasured possession on every kitchen shelf she has ever had.
Coronation Street airs weekday nights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
