TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO STEPH AT THE END OF LAST SERIES.
Steph had almost got the sack but had hung onto her job by basically blackmailing Jack the headmaster. She then right at the very end of the last series saved Jack's life. So she will constantly try and hold this over him, he's very grateful and she's not going to let him forget it.

DO YOU THINK STEPH HAS CHANGED AT ALL THIS SERIES?
I think Steph has perhaps realised she can no longer coast along with her lacksidasical teaching methods at Waterloo Road anymore. She now has to face up to doing some work. Steph is not a very good teacher but it didn't seem to matter when the school was falling apart. But now it has been turned around she's found she needs to catch up. She still fancies Jack but I think it's more that she is quite lonely. I don't think she has much of a home life. So although she doesn't particularly like her work - it's all she's got.

DOES STEPH STILL TRY AND SEDUCE JACK THIS SERIES?
Absolutely, I think Steph will always try and charm Jack into bed with her. And if he's drunk enough or desperate enough he'll go with it. But I don't think she will get much going on with Jack now his new secretary Davina is on the scene. Steph knows the minute she meets her that she's competition.

WHY DOESN'T STEPH GET THE HINT JACK ISN'T INTERESTED?
Jack is happy to bounce back to Steph when he's either drunk or lonely so as a pair they are friends and I suppose prop each other up. But deep down I think Steph probably realises Jack is not fully interested in her. But that doesn't mean it changes her feelings towards him. She does really like him and uses any opportunity to attract him back to her - so she gets him when he is at his weakest. She'll always give it a try. But I don't think Steph has any aspirations she's going to become his partner.

SHE HAS SOME COMPETITION FROM HIS NEW SECRETARY DAVINA THIS SERIES, HOW DOES SHE PLAY HER GAME NOW?
Steph will see Davina, Jack's new secretary, as competition and it will annoy her that Davina is working so closely with Jack and sitting outside his office. I think Steph realises she doesn't really stand a chance anymore. But I don't want to give the story away, but when she finds out something about Davina later in the series, it might just give Steph the ammunition she needs!

WHAT ARE STEPH'S BEST QUALITIES?
She's kind and although she's a gossip I think she does genuinely stand by those she likes and respects. I love her sense of humour and the fact she keeps trying even if the situation is completely hopeless.

AND WORST?
The worst things about Steph are she is a hopeless French teacher. She drinks too much and she is a gossip. All fun to play though!

STEPH TAKES A MOTHERING ROLE TOWARDS MIKA AND LATER MAXINE. WHY DOES SHE DO THIS?
I think Steph would have loved to have been a mother. I think it comes very naturally to her. She genuinely cares about people and particularly kids who are having a rough time like Mika and Maxine. I'm not saying she's a very good though in her mothering role as she is still a bit naive... she blurs the boundaries between someone the kids should respect and someone they can call a mate. I think the Maxine storyline has been very interesting and nice to see a different side to Steph - but I wouldn't want her to get too serious... as I like the sense of fun she injects.

DO YOU THINK STEPH HAS OVERSTEPPED THE MARK OR IS SHE RIGHT TO GET INVOLVED WITH MIKA'S BULLIES?
Steph is right to get involved with the bullies but she was not right to take them on by tricking them. Steph does get it wrong - but then she'd be boring if she didn't.

STEPH SEEMS DESPERATE FOR PEOPLE TO LIKE HER - WHY?
Steph Haydock is desperately lonely. The staff room gossip is the highlight of her day.

STEPH TAKES AN INTEREST IN MAXINE, AN EX-STUDENT WHO APPEARS TO BE A JUNKIE, WHAT ARE HER REASONS FOR THIS?
Steph once again steps into the mothering or maternal role. She wants to make a difference to Maxine and get her off the drugs and away from her boyfriend Lewis. But she didn't need to have her move in with her!

HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO GIVE ADVICE IN REGARDS TO BULLYING?
Yes I was bullied once but it was soon rectified. I went home and told my mum about it... she was amazing as she came to school and held the young lad's ear and made me kick him back. He didn't bully me again!

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE TO KIDS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF BULLYING?
If you are being bullying you should definitely tell someone in the family or at school.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE STORYLINE THIS SERIES?
Although it's quite serious I do like the Maxine story and seeing the other side of jokey, flirty Steph.

WHAT DID YOU DO BETWEEN SERIES?
Between filming the two series of Waterloo Road I took a couple of holidays, filmed for The Bill, Loose Women and caught up with all the family.

ANY OTHER PROJECTS LINED UP FOR AFTER WATERLOO ROAD?
Yes I'm off to play The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella in Darlington.

IF YOU WERE ALLOWED TO TAKE A MEMENTO FROM WATERLOO ROAD WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE?
If I was able to take a prop or item as a memento from Waterloo Road I think I would probably take one of the mini Eiffel towers. There are a couple of these in Steph's French classroom. Or perhaps one of her hideous tops!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
To be honest I don't get a lot of spare time but I have a horse called Lady so I ride her.

HOW DO YOU STAY IN SHAPE?
I ride my horse when I can which is good exercise. But I suppose I also keep in shape by being a busy working mum. Earlier in the year, however, I was in good shape as I did a sponsored run so I as doing a lot of running and going to the gym a lot. I thought it would see me through and I would stick to the habit of running, of course I didn't! I seem to do things in phases. However my new year's resolution is to get back in shape.

DO YOU HAVE ANY LONG TERM GOALS FOR STEPH?
Well I do know I don't want Steph to actually find love, as that would be the end, but I would love her to be constantly searching for love. It sounds a bit mean really but what I would love is for her to have a string of disastrous dates. She should move on from Jack Rimmer although she will always have a sparkle for him, and try her luck with some other men - but all of them inappropriate. But all I know for Steph in the future is I definitely don't want to see her settled. I also enjoy the fact Steph is jokey and light hearted so I would always want Steph to keep that side to her character. She gets some great dialogue and it would be a shame if she got too serious.

DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN LONG TERM GOALS OR AMBITIONS?
Well of course this would be in an ideal future. But I would love to do a film with: Judi Dench, Julie Walters, Helen Mirren and with June Whitfield playing my mother!! People have said for years June and I have a similar look!

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND BROUGHT UP?
Tynemouth and Monkseaton near Whitley Bay.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Alderley Edge, Cheshire. Which is perfect for filming Waterloo Road. Near enough to get to work easily but it's not completely on my doorstep.