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"My character, WPC Kate McFay, is a kind person and quite a sensitive soul. But she’s sick to death of the bullying from the boys, so she just keeps her head down."

How did you prepare for the part?

"My sister was a police officer, so she (provided) some great research material."


"For the physical side of things I took up spinning classes and nearly killed myself! You feel like you’re in a club, with music thumping and some bloke at the front screaming at you."

"It was so hard I honestly thought I was going to die. So I stopped doing it after a while and went on a two-day police cycling course."

In the end you quite enjoyed the cycling then?

"Yes. (The whole cast) became attached to their bikes. Even when we went to the loo we would take them with us, it’s quite funny!"

Apparently you weren’t so keen on the clothing, though…

"Well, we wore two types of shorts – ones made out of shell-suit material and some tight Lycra ones that were the worst things I’ve ever worn!"

"They had the word ‘police’ written on the bottom area, which was very attractive, and they dug into your thighs. Plus the padding made you feel you like you were wearing a really huge nappy!"

Like Kate, you’re a single girl. Would you ever ask a man out as she does on the show?

"I think all women would be single if it was left up to the men! But no, I just don’t think I could do it. I couldn’t handle the rejection if they said no…"

You once said 'I'm never going to be a romantic lead', but you recently starred opposite James Nesbitt in the BBC production Cinderella That must have been a challenge…

"Cindy was still a bit quirky, though."

"James is an attractive chap, but nobody beats John Henshaw for charm and a sense of humour. He played my boss and lover, John Prescott, in Confessions Of A Diary Secretary".

You got your big break in Victoria Wood’s Dinner Ladies, which was filmed in front of a live audience. Is everything else a walk in the park after that?

"I wish! The older I get the worse the nerves are. Never mind botox - a couple of confidence injections wouldn't go amiss!"

Your former Shameless co-star James McAvoy has waltzed off to Hollywood. Do you have any such plans?

"Who?....only messin'! I've never really given it much thought to be honest."

What have you got lined up over here?

"At the moment I’m doing a biography of the comedian Tony Hancock called Hancock and Joan, in which I play his lover. Then I guess it’s back to auditioning!"