Biography
A talented award winning television actress, Tina spent eight years playing the troubled Sarah-Louise Platt in Coronation Street and is no stranger to controversial storylines.
As a hard-working single mother, life's not always easy for this 27-year-old, but being put through her paces live in front of the Strictly Come Dancing judges and the British public is likely to be her toughest role to date.
Career
Tina's first TV role was when she was 14 in children's hospital drama The Ward in 1997.
After parts in The Ward and Clocking Off, 16-year-old Tina joined the cast of Coronation Street playing Sarah-Louise Platt. At the time, her character was a school girl aged 12. She is the third actress to have played the role.
Tina enjoyed some of the biggest storylines during her time in the show including a teenage pregnancy, escaping death at the hands of the murderous Richard Hillman, discovering her fiancée was gay, and her daughter being hospitalised after taking an ecstasy tablet previously hidden in her doll.
Tina won the National TV Award for 'Most Popular Newcomer' in 2000.
She left the show in 2007 when her character moved to Italy.
In 2010 O'Brien started filming a new role for the Ö÷²¥´óÐã1 drama Waterloo Road.
Earlier this year she also appeared in the Ö÷²¥´óÐã2 drama The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister where she played Miss Brown.
Background
Tina was born in Rusholme, Manchester.
In 2003 Tina started a relationship with actor Ryan Thomas who played her on-screen husband Jason Grimshaw in Coronation Street.
She and Ryan moved in together in 2006 and soon announced that the couple were expecting their first child. Her daughter, Scarlett Jacqueline was born in October 2008.
In November 2009 it was announced that the couple had split up. Tina told the press that Ryan had said "she didn't do it for him anymore" and wanted to break up.
Trivia
Tina has twice been voted into the annual FHM Top 100 Sexiest Women in the World. In 2005 she was placed 28th and she was 53rd in 2006.
She is currently dating one of the crew members on Waterloo Road.
Are you a fan of Tina and Jared?
Why not join in the discussion at Tina & Jared's Blog page - the home of ""!
Dancing partner
Tina O'Brien will be dancing with Jared Murillo.
