Inside the showbiz life of Scarlett Thomas as she admits she didn't take her GCSEs

With two actor parents, an uncle who has been on TV most of his life and a reality star step mum, it is little surprise young Scarlett Thomas has already picked her career path.

Tina O'Brien and Ryan Thomas - once sweethearts on the set of Coronation Street with the pair having played an on-screen couple while also being together in real life - couldn't be prouder of their 15-year-old daughter, who is earning rave reviews in Waterloo Road.

She can sing too, and insiders are already saying there are big things to come from the talented teen who is being backed all the way by her family. But they all say she's no 'nepo baby' as the Mirror take a closer look at the life of the youngster who plays Izzie Charles in BBC's school-based drama.

READ MORE: Peter Andre’s priority in toxic feud after son Junior's 'powerful' statement

READ MORE: Kate and Rio Ferdinand announce move to Dubai as they show off epic new mansion

Following in parent's footsteps

Scarlett has followed the career path of her parents Ryan, 41, and Tina, 42, by starting young on TV. The former couple are best known for their respective roles as Jason Grimshaw and Sarah Platt on ITV's Coronation Street where they started as fresh faced teens.

She made her on-screen debut in the revival of Waterloo Road, which began in 2023. She's worked alongside her uncle Adam Thomas and his son Teddy Thomas, who play Donte Charles and Tommy Charles respectively.

After she was nominated for Favourite Young Actor by TV Times magazine that same year, Tina shared her pride. She wrote on Instagram: "So proud of Scarlett, she's worked so hard on Waterloo Road and I've absolutely loved watching her portrayal of Izzy. Wonderful to see her talen recognised by [TV Times] as she's been nominated for an award."

Not sitting her GCSE exams

Last week, the young star raised eyebrows by admitting she didn't sit her GCSEs.

She said on social media that she will "forever wonder" if she could have had "good results" herself as hundreds of thousands of youngster found out how they got on.

Over the footage on Instagram, she wrote to fans: "Watching everyone get there GCSE results today wondering if I could've had good results but I will forever wonder."

Scarlett, who used Phoebe Bridgers' song Sidelines as the soundtrack to it, congratulated students in the caption. She wrote on the platform: "Well done everyone you all should be beyond proud whatever results you got."

Setting up her mum!

Tina and Ryan fell for each other on the set of Coronation Street, with the pair having played an on-screen couple while also being together in real life.

The former couple are understood to have been in a relationship from around 2003 onwards, with their daughter Scarlett then born in 2008. A few years later, her daughter - then a toddler - introduced her to future-husband Adam Crofts in 2011, with the pair now married with a child together.

Scarlett is said to have wandered over to Adam in a cafe, with Tina said to have recalled that she thought he was "quite fit" and the two adults soon "got talking".

Adam - who married Tina in 2018 - referenced this during his wedding speech, saying: "Scarlett is the first one who approached me [and] Tina soon came scuttling after her!"

No 'nepo baby'

Earlier this year, proud dad Ryan defended Scarlett amid her being referred to as a 'nepo baby'. Addressing her role on Waterloo Road, which his brother Adam had first appeared on from 2006 to 2009, he told the Sun: "She worked damn hard to get that job, and people need to recognise that she's a talented girl - she's up against other people and she's not getting a free ride.

"She has to go through the same process as everyone else - it was between her and somebody else. It wasn't like, 'This is a Thomas, she’s going to get this job'."

Months before, Scarlett slammed the suggestions herself. Over a video, she typed out an apparent comment that she had received, which read: "You only got these opportunities because of your family."

She then added a message to fans in response over the footage, which showed her riding in a car as Easy by the Commodores played. Scarlett wrote: "God forbid a girl takes the chances she gets."

Reality star step mum

Scarlett has a huge support network - and even her step mum is a TV regular.

Years after Ryan and Tina called it a day, Scarlett's dad went on to find love with former TOWIE favourite Lucy Mecklenburgh. She loves being part of the teen's life.

Speaking of the moment they met, Lucy told OK! magazine: "We FaceTimed beforehand so I wasn’t a complete stranger. I first met her when she was modelling for Bohoo.com and, as soon as I turned up, she started twirling around and flicking her hair more. She’s amazing and so confident. She was easy from day one."

She added: "We go to the cinema, we have sleepovers, waffles and water fights, it takes me back to my youth watching Disney films - I love it. I took one for the team when I spent eight hours doing maths homework with her on the way back home from Dubai while Ryan slept. I got a B in maths but the long division was hard!"

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Threads.