“We’re just two random girls from down the road!” laughs Coronation Street’s Sydney Martin, as she and co-star Cait Fitton open up about the bond they’ve built since joining the iconic ITV soap.

The two young actresses, who play Betsy and Lauren, have become fast friends both on and off screen—and it’s clear their connection is as real as it gets. “We’re not used to the life that comes with it,” Sydney explains, reflecting on the whirlwind experience of stepping into such a beloved show. “So to have each other to lean on is so special. There aren’t a whole lot of young people in soaps, so we’re really lucky to have found each other.”

Their chemistry has also lit up the screen. Ever since Betsy and Lauren drove off in Tracy’s flower van, fans could see that the characters—and the actresses behind them—had discovered something rare: a genuine kindred spirit.

It might be because we already know the pair share plenty of similarities (fierce loyalty being one of them), but it might also be because the two actors have been best friends from the moment they met on Corrie.

And as Sydney and Cait join us after their gorgeous photo shoot, we can immediately feel that the duo match each other’s infectious energy to a tee…

Danielle Baguely

Hello, both! Tell us, what was your first impression of each other?

Sydney: “The first encounter I had with Cait was when I just found out I’d got the job. I was so nervous, and she reached out to me on Instagram. It can feel daunting, and she was so helpful from the start. When we got put in a dressing room together, I was like, ‘This is perfect!'”

Cait: “Sydney has one of those auras that’s just positive be around. I know that I can go to Sydney with anything. She’s so reassuring, and I think when you get that in someone you’re working with, it develops into this trust – not just on set but off set too.”

What similarities do you share?

Sydney: “On a moral and emotional ground, we’re very similar.”

Cait: “If I have a bad day, Sydney knows exactly what to do, what to say, and vice versa. Everybody has anxious days where they struggle, and that’s okay. When Sydney and I have a bad day, we voice it, and we’re emotionally there for each other. In so many ways, we’re just the same person. We’re literally like sisters!”

Danielle Baguely

Do you ever get confused for each other?

Cait: “We do, and we pretend to be each other. People thought I was DS Swain’s daughter for a bit, and when Sydney was cast, people thought Betsy and Lauren are related.”

Sydney: “We did look like long-lost sisters in a scene we just did.”

Cait: “They told me I needed to change outfits because we looked too similar!”

For the full chat and photoshoot with Sydney and Cait, including their thoughts on a potential Swarla wedding, pick up next week’s issue of Inside Soap – available to buy from Tuesday.

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.