Coronation Street star Deirdre Barlow’s hunky toy boy looks totally different nearly 30 years on since his tragic soap exit.
As fans will recall, before she became a Barlow, Deirdre, played by Anne Kirkbride, was actually Deirdre Rachid after marrying toy boy Samir Rachid.
Samir (Al Nedjari) met Deirdre whilst she was on holiday in Morocco in 1994. The pair then tied the knot and he later joined her on the famous cobbles.
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However, his Corrie stint was short-lived after he was tragically murdered in 1995 following an attack by a group of youths. Samir was on the way to hospital at the time, to help save his wife’s daughter, Tracey.
(Image: ITV / Rex Features)
Actor Al’s big break was playing Samir in Corrie. In an interview with Yahoo, he said: “It was my first job out of drama school.
“I didn’t grow up with a TV in my house and wasn’t connected culturally with it at all, so I have to admit I wasn’t that thrilled about it. I was quite a worthy, idealistic actor who wanted to do really important theatre but I left drama school on Friday and by Sunday evening I was on the set.”
(Image: ITV)
But now, AI had returned to telly screens for a brand new Netflix thriller, The Strays. The movie is set in a suburban town and AI plays the manager of a hotel where strange things start to happen after two guests arrive.
AI looks a lot different compared to his soap-star days. For his new role, he rocks a bushy greying beard and longer hair. Over the weekend, fans watching the Netflix flick were left stunned after spotting the former soap icon.
(Image: Netflix)
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One person said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Is that Samir, Deirdre’s husband?” A second chimed in and penned: “Watched The Strays on Netflix last night and guess who had a bit part as the hotel manager? Samir!”
AI has also starred in a slew of theatre and TV shows. Another notable performance was in Bridgerton when he played the role of a Lord-in-waiting. He also appeared on stage in W. Somerset Maugham’s The Sacred Flame, playing Dr Harvester.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
