Coronation Street’s original Summer Spellman star unrecognisable as she reveals very normal job away from acting
FORMER Coronation Street star Matilda Freeman looks unrecognisable from her days on the cobbles.
Matilda, 19, played the role of Summer Spellman until leaving the soap after over three years.
Since departing Corrie, she has followed a passion outside acting while maintaining her on-screen career.
The former soap star is now a florist, with a dedicated Instagram account showcasing her flowers.
Her account’s bio reads: “UK based florist & gardening lover, all flowers sourced from my own garden…”
Matilda has also changed up her hair colour since her time working on Corrie.
She ditched her blonde locks on the show for darker shades such as black and red at different points in time.
Back in 2017, Matilda originated the role of Summer, the teenage ward of Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank).
However, the character was introduced as the adoptive daughter to Drew (Tom Godwin), a former flame of Billy’s.
After Drew’s death from complications caused by cancer, the young woman was placed in the care of Billy and his then-partner Todd Grimshaw (Bruno Langley/Gareth Pierce).
In 2020, it was announced that Harriet Bibby would take over the role following Matilda’s decision to exit.
Matilda said at the time: “I’d like to say thank you to my second family, the cast, crew and viewers who have supported me during my time on the cobbles.
“After three and a half lovely years I felt it was time for a change and I’m excited to be starting that next chapter with a new role.”
In addition, she previously revealed on Instagram: “When you work at Corrie you’re under a contract which means you can’t work on anything else while you’re there – so it was quite limiting.”
It comes as viewers saw Matilda in TV comedy-drama Passenger, which aired earlier this year.
Broadchurch star Andrew Buchan, who played Mark Latimer, penned the scripts.
Soap characters who've been recast
Soap operas are staple viewing for many people, but even some of the most famous characters have been played by different actors. Here are some examples from over the years.
- Tracy Barlow: Kate Ford took on the role of Corrie legend Tracy Barlow in 2002. Before Kate, three other actresses had played Tracy – most notably Dawn Acton from 1988 to 1999.
- Nick Tilsley: Ben Price has been playing Gail’s oldest child in 2009, but the former Footballers’ Wives star is the third actor to take on the part.
- Sarah Platt: Although Tina O’Brien debuted as Sarah Platt in 1999, she is the third actress who has played the iconic role of Sarah Platt.
- David Platt: Completing the line-up of Gail’s children, David was initially played by Thomas Ormson for a decade before Jack P. Shepherd took over.
- Daniel Osbourne: For almost a decade, the role of Ken Barlow’s son Daniel has been portrayed by actor Rob Mallard. Before Rob joined, two other actors had previously played Daniel.
- Bethany Platt: Fans know Lucy Fallon as Bethany nowadays but before her, three other actresses had stepped into the character’s shoes.
- Kirk Sutherland: Before Andy Whyment took on the role of Kirk, he played by an uncredited actor in his very first appearance.
- Todd Grimshaw: Gareth Pierce stepped into the role of Todd back in 2020, becoming the second performer to play this part.
- Summer Spellman: Harriet Bibby became the second actress to play Summer, taking over the role from Matilda Freeman in 2020.
- Ryan Connor: Ryan Prescott currently plays the long-running character, but Ben Thompson and Sol Heras had earlier portrayed the role.
- Martin Fowler: Although Martin was the first baby born on-screen in EastEnders, he hasn’t always been played by the same person. His current portrayer, James Bye, is the third actor to star as the character.
- Peter Beale: Seven actors have portrayed Ian Beale’s elder son, with the current actor, Thomas Law, in his second stint as the character.
- Ben Mitchell: Ben has been played by a total of six actors – with Max Bowden bowing out of the role in March 2024.
- Bobby Beale: Before Clay Milner Russell, Ian’s younger son had been played by four other actors.
- Freddie Slater: Bobby’s best mate, Freddie Slater, had been previously played by twins Alex and Tom Kilby before Bobby Brazier took over in 2022.
- Chelsea Fox: Former Coronation Street actress Zaraah Abrahams took over the role of Chelsea in 2020. The character had been first played by Tiana Benjamin from 2006 to 2010.
- Lauren Branning: Jacqueline Jossa took on the role of Lauren in 2010, succeeding Madeline Duggan who’d played her from 2006 to 2010.
- Johnny Carter: Johnny has been played by three actors since debuting in 2013 – most recently, Charlie Suff has taken on the role.
She plays the role of Lilly Wells, completing her transformation into the character with an auburn red hairstyle.
The show follows former Met Police Detective Riya Ajunwa, played by Wunmi Mosaku.
Fellow former Corrie stars Debbie Rush (Anna Windass) and Jack James Ryan (Jacob Hay) also appear in Passenger.
Coronation Street airs on ITV and is available to watch on ITVX.