SHE has been at the heart of an ill-fated love affair in Coronation Street – now actress Ruxandra Porojnicu reveals why she hasn’t yet met “The One” in real life.
In her sexiest ever photoshoot, the gorgeous 31-year-old — who made her dramatic return to the cobbles last week as Alina Pop — explains she has been single for the past three years.
In stark contrast to her character’s doomed relationship with Tyrone Dobbs, Ruxandra says she is a “hopeless romantic” and hopes to find true, lasting love.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun on Sunday, she said: “I believe in fairytales, I think that’s why I’m still single.
“Men do slide into my DMs. But I’m more of a romantic person and would love to meet someone in real life when out and about or in a coffee shop.
“I’ve been single for the last few years. I’m a hopeless romantic and hope to find true love one day.”
Romanian Ruxandra admits she is focused on her career and briefly tried to meet someone online.
She said: “I tried the dating apps once but they are not really my cup of tea.
“A pretty picture doesn’t really say much. You need to see the person’s personality, how they think and their attitude. That’s the whole package, not just perfect looks.
“It’s really hard. I’m a very career- driven person and I think you have to go out all the time and socialise, so I find it a bit of a challenge.
“I like it more when it happens organically. You go to a coffee shop and you see a guy, he sees you and it just happens like that.
“They can be from any industry as long as they are nice, we connect and he’s a beautiful person inside and out.”
The soap star, who was born in Bucharest, previously spent two years in Coronation Street from 2019 and was involved in the show’s hard-hitting modern slavery storyline, where she was trafficked to work in the UK in a nail salon.
During that time her character enjoyed a romance with Tyrone, played by Alan Halsall, 41, causing him to split from long-term love Fiz though it ended in heartache for her.
She also met a real-life victim of trafficking with the Salvation Army while researching the modern slavery role which received widespread acclaim.
Shockingly, despite her success on the show, she suffered racist abuse on social media, with vile comments such as “get back to your own country”, which led her to decide to block anyone from writing anything on her posts until recently.
She said: “A few years ago I had quite a few racist comments on social media, so what I did was turn off my comments so no one could comment on my pictures or stories. When it started happening I blocked everything because it’s just not worth it. People would never say it to you on the street.”
Ruxandra’s character was last seen leaving Weatherfield in 2021 to return to Romania — and tenderly touched her stomach.
The move left viewers wondering if she was still pregnant despite leading Tyrone to believe she had suffered a miscarriage when he chose Fiz — played by Jennie McAlpine — over her.
A few years ago I had quite a few racist comments on social media, so what I did was turn off my comments so no one could comment on my pictures or stories
Ruxandra Porojnicu
She got the call inviting her to return to Corrie at the beginning of the year and now, in a sensational storyline, Tyrone finally discovered this week that she had his baby, a little boy she called Dorin.
Ruxandra said: “I always hoped there would be a chance that I could come back, especially with the way things ended. We saw her touching her tummy before getting on a plane.
“I had hope as I’d really enjoyed working on Corrie and feel that I grew up so much as an actor and working with everyone. So it was great to get the call.
“But I was very nervous because obviously I left and everyone continued working, they got better and more experienced whereas I was off doing other projects.
“Luckily, my first scene back was with Jennie McAlpine, who I just love so much. She’s a great actress, but also a great person to be around.
“Like Alan, she is amazing. I was definitely nervous but because Alina has a baby now it automatically felt different.”
And she loves working with two-year-old Henry, who plays her son.
Ruxandra said: “Little Henry really helped on a personal level too. I have a little niece and a nephew, which is just wonderful, but I don’t get to see them that much as they are back home in Romania.
“When I saw them last I was so much better with them, and that’s all down to the time I spent with little Henry.
“Working with him was such a beautiful and unique experience. He is just two years old and doesn’t have scripted lines, he’s just so funny.
I tried the dating apps once but they are not really my cup of tea. A pretty picture doesn’t really say much. You need to see the person’s personality, how they think and their attitude. That’s the whole package, not just perfect looks
Ruxandra Porojnicu
“He knows me and Alan as Mummy Alina and Daddy Tyrone, every time he would react in the scenes he matched perfectly with the scenes. He was cracking us up. We were in awe of his talents.”
On Alina’s decision not to tell Tyrone she had his son, Ruxandra said: “She loved him very much and hoped that they would be together.
“She wanted to marry him. But he never chose her back with his heart, she knew deep down that his one and only is Fiz.
“There will be trouble for sure, but there will also be a lot of love.”
Her character is back in Weatherfield to testify against the people traffickers.
She added: “It’s so brave for her to do, and it was important that Corrie showed that.
“As a mother she is more cautious and more protective of the baby, so for her to risk everything for the process of helping other people, it’s courageous.
“She went to Romania but it wasn’t safe for her back home because there were people from the gang looking for her. So she moved back to the UK.”
Ruxandra is also currently filming the second series of BBC teen comedy-drama Boarders, where she plays schoolgirl Yelena.
The show centres around the lives of five teenagers who earn scholarships to study at a boarding school.
She said: “I play a 17-year-old, which is amazing as I’m 31. Thank god for the genes!
When you make plans it feels like God has other plans for you. I’m someone who loves to think forward and plan ahead but at the same time it brought a lot of disappointment
Ruxandra Porojnicu
“I look after my skin, I moisturise and use SPF but genes play an important role. I try to sleep.
“I get asked for ID all the time. I don’t really drink alcohol, occasionally if I’m on holiday I might have a glass of wine with a meal but it’s not my thing. I do love Baileys though, as a dessert.”
Ruxandra also keeps fit, and has plans to run the London Marathon for the Salvation Army.
Covid restrictions stopped her competing in 2020 so she did the 26 miles on her own in her local park.
She added: “I do a lot of strength training, Pilates, yoga. I will try and run the London Marathon again next year for the Salvation Army. They opened my eyes and I want to help open other people’s eyes.”
Away from Corrie, Ruxandra appeared in the 2023 Adam Deacon movie Sumotherhood alongside Linda Robson, Jennifer Saunders and singer Ed Sheeran.
She also had her London stage debut in the play Stray Dogs.
As with all the roles she has previously taken on, Ruxandra welcomes new challenges and opportunities.
She said: “When you make plans it feels like God has other plans for you. I’m someone who loves to think forward and plan ahead but at the same time it brought a lot of disappointment, so now I’m trying to live in the present, not in the past and not in the future.”
