Tina O'Brien, known for her role as Sarah Platt on Coronation Street, has been at the center of a gripping murder storyline. In the June 22 episode, Sarah was revealed as the killer of Theo Silverton, played by James Cartwright, with flashbacks showing the circumstances of the scaffolder's death. Only the audience knows the secret, while Weatherfield residents remain unaware.
Early Life and Career
Before joining Coronation Street in 1999, O'Brien played Claire in CITV's Children's Ward in 1997. She left the soap in 2008 after nine years and appeared in other shows, including BBC One's Waterloo Road as Bex Fisher, as well as Casualty, Doctors, Blue Murder, and Clocking Off. She returned to Corrie in 2015 and continues to appear.
Reflecting on her start, O'Brien told The Mirror in 2021: "I think I got a three-month contract to begin with, and I was just hoping to get through the first three months here and hopefully stay. I feel incredibly lucky to be where I am and be part of such an amazing family."
Age and Appearance
O'Brien recently shared a throwback photo on Instagram from 1999, captioning it "Hanging out in my bedroom 1999." Fans praised her youthful look, with comments like "You still look like you're in your 20's" and "You look 21." She revealed she is turning 43 and often gets asked about her beauty routine.
Relationship with Ryan Thomas
Off-screen, O'Brien dated co-star Ryan Thomas, who played her on-screen husband Jason Grimshaw, from 2003 to 2009. She had previously dated his on-screen brother Bruno Langley. In 2007, she told The Mirror: "It was five months later when I got together with Ryan, and I was worried about it as he's a friend of Bruno. But we worked hard to make sure there wasn't any tension between the three of us."
The couple had a daughter, Scarlett, in 2008, but split a year later. O'Brien said she was devastated when Ryan ended the relationship a week before Scarlett's first birthday, telling new! magazine: "He said he didn't love me any more. He said I didn't do it for him any more. Those were his words."
Family and Current Life
Scarlett has followed her parents into acting, appearing in Waterloo Road alongside her uncle Adam Thomas and cousin Teddy Thomas. In March 2025, O'Brien split from her ex-husband, Adam Crofts, after seven years of marriage; they co-parent their son, Beau, amicably.
Coronation Street airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX.
