Coronation Street star Sydney Martin believes Betsy Swain could be “manipulated” by mum Becky

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This article originally appeared in TopMob magazine.

Coronation Street has launched the careers of many famous actors, including Sarah Lancashire and Suranne Jones. Currently, Sydney Martin is a promising young talent on the show, having joined 18 months ago to play the rebellious character Betsy Swain.

So how does it feel to get her break on a drama that has launched so many big careers?

“Being in Coronation Street is a privilege,” Martin tells Feedback.

I’m continuing a tradition of actors who became famous while growing up in the public eye, and who have gone on to create beloved and iconic characters.

I vividly remember watching Michelle Keegan as Tina McIntyre being a bully to Gail Platt when I was young – it’s one of my first memories of Coronation Street. Interestingly, one of my very first scenes involved being unpleasant to Carla Connor in the factory, which was incredibly intimidating! Thankfully, Ali King, who plays Carla, helped me feel much more comfortable.

Betsy’s life was turned upside down when her birth mother, Detective Becky, unexpectedly reappeared after being presumed dead for four years.

Betsy’s other mom, Lisa, is now in a relationship with Carla, and Becky’s surprising return – after pretending to be dead while working undercover – has caused a lot of tension within their already complex family. This complicated situation has given Martin plenty to work with.

The story isn’t based on reality, but I was interested in discovering a deeper truth within it. I really appreciate acting that feels incredibly natural and lifelike, focusing on small, believable details.

Watching Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal in the BBC’s Normal People really influenced my work. It’s challenging to create complex characters in a fast-paced environment like soap opera production, but I’ve learned to rely on my gut feeling.

Just months after graduating from the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester, Martin landed the role of Betsy. This followed encouragement from their high school drama teachers, who inspired them to become an actor.

Martin grew up in Rossendale, Lancashire, a small, working-class town. He originally dreamed of being a zookeeper, but realized science wasn’t his strong suit. Since he went to school with Sam Aston, who plays Chesney on Coronation Street, the show was always a popular topic of conversation. He hadn’t considered acting as a possible career path until then.

Martin is looking forward to developing her complex character.

I think Betsy’s actually quite emotionally aware, which is interesting because I’m 23 playing someone who’s supposed to be 18. But honestly, she’s still a frustrating teenager at times! She’s really stuck in the middle with her moms and Carla, and I can totally see someone like Becky taking advantage of that.

She’s very happy with her current situation. She loves her job, enjoys being around wonderful people, and gets to pursue her passion for acting daily – and for now, that’s all she wants.

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2025-11-12 15:35