Good Samaritan celebrity: Can you guess which big-hearted actress helped out a wheelchair-bound gentleman?

By Sara Mccorquodale

Who's that girl? Tina O'Brien promptly helped out a struggling gentleman she saw in the street


She is best known for her antics in Coronation Street and more recently for splitting up with her fellow soapstar boyfriend.

But it seems Tina O'Brien is also a secret good Samaritan.

For seeing an elderly wheelchair-bound gentleman struggling up a slope in Manchester, the 26-year-old promptly dropped her oversized black patent bag and proceeded to give him a push.

The petite actress started to help the stranger to get to the top of the hill, but the weight of the chair must have been to heavy for her diminutive frame because a friend soon joined in to give another helping hand.

The mother-of-one was all smiles as she chatted to the man before making sure he was able to continue without her help.


The star dropped everything to help the man up the slope and into a park


And it's no surprise - after a difficult 12 months, thing are finally starting to look up for the actress, who is best known for her role as Sarah Louise Platt in the ITV soap.

After taking a role in BBC One school drama Waterloo Road, O'Brien has been cast in the latest show for the channel by acclaimed writer Jimmy McGovern, The Accused.

Not only will this allow the star to prove herself as a serious actress, it will give her the opportunity to work with heavyweight actors Christopher Ecclestone, Peter Capaldi, Andy Serkis and Juliet Stevenson.


Dressed down: The actress was off-duty wearing skinny jeans, a crochet top, a black vest and flat black pumps


This is surely the best news O'Brien has had in the past year as she revealed her long-term relationship with Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas ended because he said she 'didn't do it for him anymore'.

The actress opened up to New! magazine earlier this month saying the actor and father of her baby daughter Scarlett told her in October 2009 that he didn't love her anymore.

'I was absolutely devastated,' she said. 'He said he didn't want the responsibility of a relationship with me.'


All smiles: With her career going from strength to strength it's no wonder O'Brien is in a good mood


source: dailymail