Tina O'Brien
Tina Michelle O'Brien (born 7 August 1983) is an English actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Sarah Platt in the long-running ITV soap opera "Coronation Street" (1999–2008, 2015–present). She also appeared as pupil Bex Fisher in the BBC One school-based drama series "Waterloo Road" (2010–2011). Career. Born in Rusholme, Manchester, England, O'Brien left Trinity C.E. High School with nine GCSEs. She starred in the drama "Children's Ward" in 1997, "The Cops" in 1998 and "Clocking Off" in 2000, playing the on-screen half sister of actor Jack P. Shepherd who later  became her on-screen brother David Platt in "Coronation Street". At the age of sixteen, she joined "Coronation Street" in October 1999, taking over the role of Sarah Platt from actress Lynsay King (she was three years older than her character). Sarah's pregnancy with baby Bethany Platt won O'Brien Best Storyline at the British Soap Awards. She has also won Best Newcomer at the National Television Awards and the "TV Quick" Awards. Her first role after leaving "Coronation Street" was in the 2007 pantomime at Manchester Opera House, where she played the title character of Cinderella. Her first television  role post-"Coronation Street" was in the ITV police television drama "Blue Murder", filmed whilst four months pregnant, in which she played a character called Amy Kirkland. O'Brien expressed interest in doing televised dramas and theatre work, although after becoming pregnant, she decided to put her career on hold. In 2010, O'Brien starred in the sixth series of the BBC school drama "Waterloo Road" as Bex Fisher, the eldest daughter of the new headteacher Karen Fisher (Amanda Burton). In 2010, she also appeared in "The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister", in which she played the character of Miss Browne, a  role which required her first on-screen lesbian kiss. Later in 2010, she appeared as a character in new television drama "Accused" written by Jimmy McGovern, as well as starring in the 2010 series of "Strictly Come Dancing". Her partner was Jared Murillo and she was unable to perform in the 3rd week due to illness. She was eliminated in the 5th week of the competition after failing to impress the viewers with her Argentine Tango. She fell into the bottom two alongside Felicity Kendal who was saved thanks to the public vote. From 4 December 2010 to 3 January  2011, she played the title character of Snow White in Manchester Opera House's 2010/2011 pantomime. Between 14 January and 13 February 2011, she participated in the 2011 "Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour". In October 2014, O'Brien announced that she would be reprising her role of Sarah Platt in "Coronation Street" in early 2015. The character returned on an episode broadcast on 30 March 2015. Personal life. O'Brien used to do gymnastics until she was 10 years old. She gave it up in favour of acting as her family could not afford for her to do both. O'Brien is the  godmother of Emily Walton, who played the original Bethany Platt, her on-screen daughter. O'Brien was in a relationship with Ryan Thomas, who played Jason Grimshaw, her on-screen former husband, from 2003 to 2009. Their daughter, Scarlett Jacqueline Thomas, was born at Stepping Hill Hospital on 26 October 2008. In October 2014, O'Brien gave birth to a boy, Beau with partner Adam Crofts whom she had been in a relationship with since 2011. O’Brien later married Crofts on New Year's Eve 2018. O'Brien has twice been voted into the annual FHM Top 100 Sexiest Women in the World . In 2005, she was voted 28th. In 2006, she was voted 53rd.