Life imitates art when it comes to Coronation Street actress Samia Smith, it would seem.
The star, who plays new mum Maria Connor in the soap, has just given birth to her first child off screen.
According to a spokesperson for the Greater Manchester-based soap, the 27-year-old and husband Mathew welcomed a baby girl into the world named Freya, who weighed in at a healthy 7lbs 2oz.
"Samia and husband Matt are delighted. Everyone at Corrie is thrilled at the latest arrival to the Corrie family," he claimed.
This comes after almost two years of playing a pregnant woman on screen for Samia.
Her character Maria was devastated when she gave birth to a stillborn baby last year, before going on to welcome a baby boy nine months after the tragic death of husband Liam, fans of the soap will be aware.
Fellow Corrie star Alison King, who recently gave birth to a baby girl, returned to the soap this week as feisty businesswoman Carla Connor after around seven months of maternity leave.
