GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTER YOU PLAY:
Izzie is a teacher at Waterloo Road and the mother of two teenage girls. She was a former singer and dancer and is a free spirit at heart. She is warm, open and feisty...and in love with her best friend!

DESCRIBE YOUR CHARACTER IN 3 WORDS:
Spontaneous, creative, feisty.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IZZIE?
Izzie lets her heart rule her head and I admire that.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT IZZIE?
Izzie has her moments of being very stroppy.

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR CHARACTER IF YOU MET THEM?
Yes, I would like her spirit.

WHAT ARE IZZIE'S LIFE VALUES AND DO THESE DIFFER FROM YOUR OWN?
She is unconventional in her thoughts and actions which is not like me but she believes love is the most important thing in life and I have to agree.

HOW ARE YOU SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT TO IZZIE?
I don't have children and couldn't imagine having them so young.

DOES YOUR CHARACTER HAVE A LOVE INTEREST?
Izzie tries to fight the feelings but she is in love with Tom who is another teacher at the school. Unfortunately Izzie is best friends with Tom and his fiance Lorna - which makes it a bit tricky!!

WHY DO YOU THINK IZZIE IS ATTRACTED TO TOM?
Tom and Izzie are attracted because they both have similar outlooks on life. They are both spontaneous and free-spirited and they make each other laugh.

WHICH CHARACTER AT WATERLOO ROAD DOES IZZIE RELATE TO BEST?
Tom for all the above reasons.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A VICTIM OF BULLYING?
Yes.

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE TO KIDS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF BULLYING?
Stand up to your bully, not physically but use your inner-strength to let them know you won't stand for it.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND BROUGHT UP?
Gateshead.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
East London.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF ARRIVING AT THE WATERLOO ROAD SET?
My first impression of the Waterloo Road set was that it was cold and empty. It's strange being back in school but feeling no sense of anxiousness or worry or fear of it.

WERE THE CLASSROOMS AND CORRIDORS OF WATERLOO ROAD THE SAME AS WHEN YOU WERE AT SCHOOL?
They looked pretty much the same.

DO YOU SEE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN WATERLOO ROAD AND A SCHOOL YOU KNOW OR ATTENDED?
Yes there are a few similarities. I went to an inner-city comprehensive where there was a cross-section of backgrounds, like Waterloo Road.

DESCRIBE THE STAFF ROOM AT WATERLOO ROAD?
The staffroom is really quite cosy. There are lots of chairs and last time I was in there, there was lots of free chocolate but I bet it's not always like that.

DO YOU THINK WATERLOO ROAD IS A REALISTIC PORTRAYAL OF A SCHOOL?
So far I think it is.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL ACTING ROLE?
My first acting role was playing an urchin in a production of Sweeny Todd at the Newcastle Playhouse.

WERE YOU A MEMBER OF THE DRAMA CLUB AT SCHOOL?
I did go to a drama club outside of school.

WHAT ROLE ARE YOU BEST KNOWN FOR?
Kate in Eastenders.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE STORYLINE COMING UP AND WHY?
I'm looking forward to seeing how the Tom/Lorna/Izzie triangle works out.

WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT FILMING WATERLOO ROAD?
I work with some great people (both cast and crew) which is really important. It's also been good fun playing a mother which I've rarely done.

HAVE YOU ANY LONG TERM GOALS OR AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE?
I would love to work in film. I want to work with Emma Thompson, Julie Walters and Lesley Sharp.