Corries Samia Longchambon tracks daughter, 12, via app amid parenting anxiety

Coronation Street's Samia Longchambon cannot believe the freedom she had growing up in the 90s now that she tracks her own daughter via an app that tell her exactly where she is at all times.

"This app I’ve got literally tells me what shop she’s in, it’s really accurate," she exclusively tells OK! this week as we catch up for her 40th birthday celebrations.

Known for playing Wetherfield's Maria Windass (nee Sutherland, Connor), the soapstar has now opened up about her parenting anxiety, admitting she has growing concerns for her 12-year-old daughter, Freya, who is soon to become a teenager.

"The other day, Freya went to Alton Towers on a school trip and all day I was stalking her on an app I’ve got where I can track her," 39-year-old Samia admits. "I was working on Coronation Street and kept checking it because I was nervous about her going on the big ride, The Smiler."

The Smiler made headlines in 2015 after the ride crashed resulting in serious injuries, causing mum-of-two Samia to think the worst after noticing via the app that Freya had been located near the ride for two hours.

"In the end I got hold of her and was like, ‘Why have you been hanging around The Smiler for two hours, have you got stuck?’," she recalls. "And she was like, ‘I’ve just been queuing!'".

Despite her anxieties, the actress feels as though it is in some ways safer growing up now due to advances in technology and the fact most young people have phones.

"I can’t imagine Freya going anywhere without a phone and me not being able to get hold of her. It’s crazy in the 90s how much freedom we had."

Yet her anxiety isn’t solely triggered by parenting.

The actress, who turns 40 this week, opened up about the anxiety she feels surrounding her upcoming celebrations and how she decided to finally take ownership of her mental health and scrap any ideas of a big birthday bash which would have heightened her anxiety.

"I know with the job I do this sounds like I’m contradicting myself but I hate being the centre of attention and I feel too nervous to have a party," she says.

"I thought at one point I might have a private dinner and hire out a room for my closest friends. But even then, I didn’t want to leave anyone out and upset them.

"The thought of it all became too stressful, so I had a really nice spa weekend with five of my close friends instead – Jane Danson [who plays Leanne in Corrie] was there and my bridesmaids, and my friend Kim. It was really nice."

Samia met her husband, Sylvain, when competing on Dancing on Ice in 2013, the couple married in 2016 and welcomed their son, Yves in September 2015. Her husband is Samia’s main support system and he is taking her on a surprise getaway to celebrate the big 40.

"I don’t know where we’re going,” Samia excitedly tells OK! . "We’ve never had a weekend without the kids – I’m nervous! I’ve never spent two nights away from Yves. All I know is that we’re not flying anywhere.

"Sylvian knows I’m not ready yet to leave the country without the kids."

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