Coronation Street star Sydney Martin has said she is 'still training' despite earning huge praise for her role in the long-running show, more than two years after she made her debut.
From Rossendale to Weatherfield
The actress, from Rossendale, is best known for playing Betsy Swain in the ITV soap, which is filmed in Salford, and was first seen on-screen as being Sabrina Adetiba's mate, before it was revealed that the teen was the daughter of long-standing character DS Lisa Swain.
While she was quickly involved in the Weatherfield drama, it was earlier this year that Sydney got her biggest storyline to date, as Betsy had a stroke at the age of 18, which was caused by a blood clot, which was the result of neck artery damage from a temporary loss of circulation.
Biggest Storyline to Date
When doctors spoke to Betsy about the cause, the teen had to explain to her mum that her boyfriend, Dylan Wilson, had strangled her during consensual sex, despite both believing the pressure applied was minimal.
Viewers have since witnessed Betsy’s challenging recovery as she transitioned from hospital to home, while navigating the significant changes to her life.
Returning to Her Former School
The storyline has continued to earn Sydney great praise, but during her return to her former school, the Haslingden High School and Sixth Form student, the soap star told how she doesn't ever stop learning, as she keeps up her acting classes alongside her busy filming schedule.
Speaking to students, Sydney, who studied Drama at GCSE and A Level at Haslingden, before being accepted into Arden School of Theatre, said of her motivation: "I just think about that little girl that absolutely loved performing. I always want to improve. I’ve gone from after-school clubs to professional classes; I’m still training. The storyline I am working on now is quite a big opportunity for me as an actor."
Dealing With Rejection
According to Lancs Live, Sydney also opened up about dealing with rejection. "It can be brutal," she admitted. "A lot of the time you don’t get feedback after receiving a no, which can be hard, but you just have to say ‘right, okay, move on’ and go on to the next thing.
"My main advice to you would be to think if it’s something you can deal with. If you have the passion and determination to do it - do it. But if there is something else that is sitting in your mind, try that, because it is hard."
The 25-year-old added: "My passion is what keeps me going. The rejection isn’t personal – it could be something as simple as you don’t have the right colour eyes – it is just one opinion. It’s not like Maths, where you can be really good at it and that’s it. Drama and the arts are subjective – one person might love it and another not so much."
Andy Anderson, Drama Teacher at the school and Sydney's former teacher, said of her visit: "It’s been wonderful to welcome Sydney back. This conversation has been incredibly insightful and a strong reminder about the importance of self-belief. It’s key that our students pursue their passions in life. If there is something that interests them, we always want them to go out there and just do it."
