Maria Connor

Maria Jane Connor (neé Sutherland) is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street portrayed by Samia Smith since her first onscreen appearance on 19 May 2000. At one point or another she has dated Tyrone Dobbs, Jason Grimshaw and Nick Tilsley. She currently works as a hairdresser at Audrey Roberts' salon.

Overview
Maria first entered Weatherfield working as a kennel maid, she was the love interest of Tyrone Dobbs.

Relationship with Tyrone Dobbs
Not too long after they got together Tyrone proposed to Maria on the top of Blackpool Tower and the couple seemed inseparable. They then moved into No. 9 with Jack and Vera Duckworth. Over time it became apparent that they were growing apart especially after Maria got a new job working at Audrey Roberts' salon and with the help of colleague Maxine Peacock got a sexy new image. Eventually Tyrone was led astray by Fiz Brown and Maria ended the relationship. Maria's earlier storylines were also subject to an on-going feud with Fiz. Maria's brother, Kirk, dated Fiz for several years, much to her annoyance. The two were at loggerheads over the running of Maria's parents' kennels although they eventually became good friends and shared a flat above the Audery's salon for a period of time.

Relationship with John Lynley
She then entered a relationship with Jason Grimshaw, however their relationship ended before it had even begun, as he had an affair with Candice Stowe. Afterwards, Maria became attracted to John Lynley, the boyfriend of her best friend and flatmate Toyah Battersby. Maria had a one-night stand with John in January 2003 as she was drinking and upset, and as a result she became pregnant by him. She had an abortion with an unknowing Toyah by her side. When Toyah discovered the truth, she left for Sheffield without John. Whilst working as a barmaid at the Rovers, Maria struck up a relationship with corner-shop owner Vikram Desai. However, their relationship was put to the test when they went on holiday together, so they ended it there. Maria left the Rovers after constant feuds with coworkers Shelley Unwin and her mother Bev and walked out the door for good after throwing a pint over Shelley.

Leanne Battersby's Revenge
When Leanne Battersby came back to the street in 2004, she found out what Maria had done to Toyah. At that time Maria was in relationship with Nick Tilsley, and Leanne stirred things up between Maria and Nick causing them to split up. After having a string of brief affairs, including being engaged for a second time when Nick returned from Canada to win her back, she found herself becoming close to Tyrone again, and eventually the pair reunited. After a pregnancy scare, Tyrone broke off their engagement after realising that, despite how much he loved her, she would never be happy with him, claiming she was too beautiful and that in the end it would make them both unhappy. Although upset, Maria accepted his decision.

Relationship with Charlie Stubbs
Not long after the arrival of Jamie Baldwin in 2004, Maria set about trying to seduce him. He began to date Leanne Battersby, but he dumped Leanne to be with Maria. However, it was nothing more than a fling, and within weeks Jamie and Leanne had reconciled. After moving into Charlie Stubbs' old flat, Maria then began an affair with bad-boy Charlie, who was in a relationship with Tracy Barlow at the time. From the outset Charlie was determined to ensnare the hairdresser. He tampered with the plumbing, causing a major leak, and even staged a break-in so that he could be in the flat more. He even installed CCTV near the flat to watch Maria's comings and goings. It was during this fling that Maria showed a very näive side of her personality, defending Charlie whenever a bad word was said about him and believing his lies about the state of his and Tracy's relationship. When David Platt discovered Maria's affair, he was jealous as he had an intense crush on her himself. He threatened to expose Charlie's affair to Tracy.

Charlie Stubbs's Murder
Charlie tried to drown David in an attempt to avoid his affair with Maria being revealed to Tracy. However, Maria walked in on Charlie's attack on David and confessed to a furious Tracy, who brawled with her on the cobbles as a result. It was this affair that would ultimately be the end of Charlie, as Tracy murdered him in revenge for his cheating. Maria witnessed Charlie's death in hospital caused by Tracy's attack and was very upset by it. Maria quickly saw through Tracy's self-defence claims and testified against her at the murder trial.

Relationship with Liam Connor
Maria then began flirting with local entrepreneur Liam Connor and eventually they began dating in September 2007. Liam only took up her offer of a date to try and make jealous his sister-in-law Carla Connor, with whom he is secretly infatuated. Maria revealed to Liam that she was pregnant with his baby and he agreed to stand by her. Liam proposed to Maria on Monday 3 December 2007 and she accepted. On 4 January 2008, Liam and Maria both decided to spend a romantic trip in the Lake District. However, once there, their dog Ozzy went missing whilst on a hike, and the couple soon become lost. As they tried to find a higher viewpoint, they constantly argued over their relationship. As they were arguing Maria suddenly spotted Ozzy at the foot of a steep ravine. Rather than go around the side, Liam attempted to save the dog but slipped and suffered a near-fatal fall to the ground, leaving Maria alone to find help. The story had leaked in the media before it screened and made further reference to the character being a 'babe'.

On 11 February 2008, Liam and Maria married, despite some last minute nerves from Maria. It was reported in the media on 2 April 2008 that the character of Maria will be horrified to realise that her unborn baby has stopped kicking. She was rushed to hospital, where the midwives said that she must have her labour induced immediately. Unable to tell Liam, she went to the hospital alone and gave birth to a perfect lifeless baby boy with Marcus at her side. She held him for the first and last time and was clearly devastated by her loss. She returned home by herself and still unable to face Liam she went to Audrey's house where Audrey conforted her, still not knowing about the baby.

Maria and Liam decide to call their stillborn son Paul after Liam's brother. Liam and Maria have now reconciled. whilst they were not together Liam slept with Carla Connor, but later regretted his actions, after Maria begged for forgiveness. They then left to go on their honeymoon with their dog Ozzy, much to Carla's despair but returned later in June. Rosie Webster filmed Liam and Carla kissing outside her apartment after their one-night stand. The couple are now considering having a new baby upon their return, but their plans are later scuppered.

Liam Connor's Murder
In an upcoming storyline, the character of Liam Connor is set to be murdered on screen by a yet unknown person. Maria is one of the three main suspects (along with Carla and Tony)