DESCRIBE LEIGH-ANN AND HER ROLE AT WATERLOO ROAD:
Leigh-Ann is best friends with Mika until the arrival of Brett. She has always been jealous of Mika as she is not very confidant. She has a lot of front and attitude and is eager to be liked by boys.

DESCRIBE LEIGH-ANN IN 3 WORDS.
Brazen, Manipulative and Misunderstood.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT LEIGH-ANN?
I like Leigh-Ann's cheekiness and her brazen lies are hilarious.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT LEIGH-ANN?
The thing I least like about Leigh-Ann would be how much she hurts the people closest to her in order to make herself feel better or to achieve something for herself.

WOULD YOU LIKE LEIGH-ANN IF YOU MET HER?
I think Leigh-Ann would be the type of girl who would be an acquaintance; maybe a laugh to go clubbing with but you could never trust her so she would never be a friend of mine.

WHAT ARE LEIGH-ANN'S VALUES AND DO THESE DIFFER FROM YOUR OWN?
I think Leigh-Ann is searching for acceptance and I think this is something most people are trying to achieve so we have this in common. I would never deceive people in the way she does and she is a lot more aggressive than me.

HOW SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT TO LEIGH-ANN ARE YOU?
My similarities to Leigh-Ann would be that like her, people say I'm not afraid to confront things or have 'front' but like Leigh-Ann I am probably quivering inside. The differences, well I'm a lot more self assured and comfortable in my own skin. But during school age I felt very much the same insecurities Leigh-Ann does.

DOES LEIGH-ANN HAVE LOVE INTEREST?
She falls for Brett the new heart throb. She probably likes the fact he's new and everyone is interested in him - he is popular. I think she starts to want him more once she knows Mika likes him and he likes Mika - she likes the challenge.

WHICH CHARACTER AT WATERLOO ROAD DOES LEIGH-ANN RELATE TO BEST AND WHY?
Leigh-Ann doesn't have many true friends at Waterloo Road as she isolates herself by lying and manipulating them. I don't think she truthfully relates to any of the characters and often behind her front feels quite alone.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS ON ARRIVING AT THE WATERLOO ROAD SET?
Being at Waterloo Road really reminded me of being back at school. Parts of the set are a primary school and they still have the tiny toilets! All the artwork on the walls reminded me of my school too.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL ACTING ROLE?
Byker Grove, I played Emma Miller who became a singer in the show. She was the polar opposite of Leigh-Ann.

WHAT ROLE ARE YOU BEST KNOWN FOR?
Byker Grove but I also released a single 'Little Miss Perfect' under the name Summer Matthews.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE STORYLINE COMING UP AND WHY?
I loved my own storyline especially all the scenes where Leigh-Ann is completely lying to everyone without flinching a muscle.

BULLYING IS AN ISSUE THIS SERIES. IS LEIGH-ANN INVOLVED?
Leigh-Ann is definitely the main bully! She probably believes she's hard done by and reacts the way she does because she is pushed to, but what she does to Mika is unacceptable and cruel. She uses her knowledge from being friends with Mika against her. She know truly what will embarrass and upset Mika.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BULLIED?
I had a lot of problems in school mostly due to the fact I was on telly and that can push you to the centre of attention which makes people immediately want to pull you down to earth. Because I was confidant though no one did anything about it but there was times I would leave school early and pretend to be filming so as not to have to face someone.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A BULLY YOURSELF? IF SO WHAT DO YOU REGRET ABOUT THIS?
I have never bullied anyone. I always stick up for the underdog and believe and know that the weirder and geekier you are at school the more successful you will be in the big bad world. The most popular or the bullies nearly always stay living in the same area, do the same jobs. They never change because they are desperately hanging on to the years when they were somebody. It's sad!

WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE A PERSON TO DO IF THEY WERE BULLIED?
This is tricky because each circumstance is different. I went to people but they couldn't help. But I think it is best to find someone older who you trust and tell them. Remember what goes around comes around and hold your head up high and know school is just a small part of your whole life.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO GIVE ADVICE IN REGARDS TO BULLYING?
I had a girl who used to email me during my time on Byker Grove and she was getting bullied. I couldn't do a lot but I would try to keep her spirits up and I guess knowing people cared and were there to listen was helpful.

WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT RECORDING WATERLOO ROAD?
I loved the scenes in Brett's den where me Lauren and Tom all had to pretend to be drunk, it was a tiny space and both me and Lauren had to take our tops off which was daunting but it was good being in it together.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO DO AFTER FINISHING FILMING?
I have moved back to London and am auditioning for new projects.

HAVE YOU ANY LONG TERM GOALS OR AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE?
I want to succeed in acting and have longevity in my career.

HOW DO YOU KEEP IN SHAPE?
The gym and dance classes

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND BROUGHT UP?
Newcastle upon Tyne - Benton area

WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Loughton, Essex.

IF YOU WERE ALLOWED TO TAKE ONE PROP OF COSTUME TO REMIND YOU OF WATERLOO ROAD WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE?
It has got to be that gorgeous school uniform! HA HA!

WATERLOO ROAD IS FILMED IN MANCHESTER, ARE YOU ENJOYING LIVING AND WORKING AROUND MANCHESTER?
I love Manchester! It's the best of two of my worlds because it has the shopping of London and the northern sensibilities of Newcastle where I'm from.

HAVE YOU MANAGED TO SEE MUCH OF THE LOCAL AREA? IF SO WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED?
I didn't get to go out clubbing which I really want to do cos I have heard Manchester is great for a night out. But I saw a show at the Manchester Royal Exchange and spent a lot of money in the shops!

HAVE YOU SEEN ANY CULTURE/THEATRE/ART WHILST UP IN THE NORTH WEST?
Yeah saw a show at the Manchester Exchange and went to the cinema with Tom and Lauren who play Brett and Mika. Manchester Royal Exchange is great and really intimate as a theatre.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LOCAL:
RESTAURANT: Nando's you got to love it! Went there in centre of Manchester lots while filming!
BAR: Didn't get to go drinking but I look forward to it next time I'm up!
BEAUTY SPOT OR LOCATION: The hotel I stayed at in Rochdale was gorgeous and looked out from a high hill down onto Rochdale. It is called Hindle Pastures and Gill and Paul who run it are so welcoming!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
Clubbing, eating good food, spending time with my mates and boyfriend. Reading good books, shopping, watching good films and theatre.

HOW DO YOU STAY IN SHAPE?
Running, dancing, aerobics in the house and watching what I eat and having a balanced diet.

DO YOU HAVE ANY LONG TERM GOALS?
I want to be an actress throughout my life I want to do good films tv series/shows, continue to get great parts and develop myself as a performer. I want to see the world meet fantastic people and stretch myself everyday.