Waterloo Road star Scarlett Thomas, the daughter of Coronation Street actress Tina O'Brien and former co-star Ryan Thomas, is carving out her own path in the entertainment industry. The teenager made her television debut in 2023 on the BBC school drama Waterloo Road, playing the character Izzy Charles, and quickly earned acclaim for her confident performance.
A Rising Star in the Family
Tina O'Brien, known for her role as Sarah Platt on Coronation Street, expressed her pride in Scarlett's achievements. Sharing on Instagram, she wrote: "So proud of @scarlettjthomas26, she's worked so hard on Waterloo Road and I've absolutely loved watching her portrayal of Izzy." She also noted that Scarlett had been nominated for an award by TV Times magazine.
Beyond acting, Scarlett has built a significant online presence. She regularly posts singing clips on TikTok, where she has amassed over 367,600 followers, and boasts 247,000 followers on Instagram. Both accounts were launched when she turned 16.
A Major Record Deal at 17
Earlier this year, Scarlett's father Ryan Thomas, who played Jason Grimshaw on Coronation Street for 16 years, announced that his daughter had signed a record deal at just 17. He described the moment as one of the most important days of his life. Sharing a video and photos of Scarlett signing the contract, Ryan wrote: "Today is one of the best days of my life. Watching my little girl sign a record deal is a moment I will cherish forever."
He reflected on the serendipity of the day, noting that the restaurant where the deal was sealed was the same venue where Scarlett had performed five years earlier at age 12, singing "A Million Dreams" in front of family. Ryan added: "Stood on the chair in front of all her family singing A Million Dreams and here we are five years later making her dream come true."
Scarlett confirmed the news herself, posting photos of the signing and expressing her gratitude. She wrote: "Wow what an experience I have had so far, and what an experience I'm about to have, I am beyond grateful for this amazing opportunity." She added: "Today was a life-changing moment for me. I've been working hard behind the scenes, but I can now finally share it with you all. I can't wait for what this year brings, hopefully some amazing music."
The record deal is with Big Family Music, reportedly finalized during the restaurant meeting documented by Ryan and Scarlett online.
Coronation Street airs weeknights on ITV1 at 8.30pm and is available to stream from 7am on ITVX.
