Quotes

[on Coronation Street (1960)'s Siege Week] We were tied up and gagged for a week and a half. I was gaffa-taped for a little while and tied up for most of it. My wrist was sore at the end! It was a different experience anyway, acting for two weeks with your hands tied behind your back on a chair. Kym Marsh was like, 'You loved it!'

[on why people like Carla Connor] I don't know... I think a lot of women like her ego and she's quite real. She's quite gobby but also quite driven. Everyone would like to be a bit like that - to be able to say exactly what they want, when they want and walk with their heads held high and their high heels on down the street jangling their keys and going, 'Oh, get lost - I don't care what you think!' I had a woman come up to me once who said, 'I like Carla, she keeps it real!'

[on returning to Coronation Street (1960) in 2017] I've been away about a year-and-a-half. I had done what I wanted to do and spent time with my daughter Daisy and we had a great time. I was there for her and I hadn't really had time to do that before. That is the most rewarding thing - but it was time for me to have the adult banter again.

[on fronting a campaign to raise money for Breast Cancer Campaign with thermal manufacturer Damart in 2007] I said yes straight away to this campaign - because I feel I can bring it home in a way. People might not realise breast cancer hits a lot of people my age and younger. I'm very fortunate not to have any immediate family affected but everyone is touched by it. I had a friend who died of breast cancer in her early 40s, the most beautiful lady, and it's very hard to understand.

[on hiring a personal trainer to lose weight after giving birth] I had a personal trainer twice a week and he was wicked - he made me do circuit training and boxing - by the end of the third circuit, I'd be swearing and ready to punch his face in!

[on her Coronation Street (1960) character Carla Connor] I was uncomfortable playing a constant bitch at first. I'm getting into it now but I'm not as nasty or as cocky as Carla. She's horrible to anyone she perceives to be a rival. I couldn't be like that.

[on her Coronation Street (1960) character Carla Connor] I would never be her mate in a million years! Carla's a nightmare and annoys the hell out of me. She's the type of person who creates drama wherever she goes, and I'm not like that at all. Plus, she'd probably try to steal my fella!

You get addicted to being a jobbing actress. It's nice to jet off to Luxembourg, Bulgaria or Romania - places you wouldn't normally go to - and suddenly find yourself there for nine weeks. I'm not majorly ambitious but I've always got by fine. My attitude is if something happens it's a nice surprise but I don't go all out to get stuff. I'm not that good at networking. I usually get the next film because it worked well on the film before, so I'm doing something right. I've done seven or eight films now. Half of them were silly action films but I love the versatility of it, that I've been kickboxing in Berlin, filming with Steven Seagal in Bulgaria or talking about being a jobbing actor with Owen Wilson. He didn't get what it was - I said, 'you'll probably never know, babe!'

[on Shanghai Knights (2003)] I only had a cough and spit role as a prostitute but they put my bit in the advert the last time it was on TV so I got 'oh, working with Owen Wilson are you?' I got a lot of ribbing about being the whore in Shanghai Knights.

[on playing Carla Connor] I always seem to end up playing quite feisty characters. But it's great fun - and there aren't too many raunchy scenes. After all, you can't be too saucy on Corrie. I wouldn't want to be having to get my bits out every day. I'm quite different to Carla, although I suppose there's a bit of sassiness in everyone.

[on being nominated for sexiest female at the British Soap Awards 2007] I'm a bit embarrassed, to tell you the truth. I don't think I'd feel comfortable winning. But it's flattering to be nominated.