WHAT HAPPENED TO MIKA AT THE END OF LAST SERIES?
After realising her dad wasn't all he was cracked up to be, numerous arguments with her mum, Izzie, about her relationship with Mr Clarkson, and Chlo's court case that put stress on the whole family. Mika finally gave her mum some slack and accepted her and Mr Clarkson as a couple and things started looking a little more optimistic for the Redpath/Graingers!

DO YOU THINK MIKA HAS CHANGED AT ALL?
I think there is much more opportunity to see different sides to Mika this series. This series, Mika has a bigger part in the storylines and is to be seen in many different situations. For instance Mika finds herself getting viscously bullied by her, one time, best friend Leigh-Ann, and this brings out a much more vulnerable side to her. However to cope with the humiliation she puts on a hard front. There is also Mika's relationship with Brett that allows us to see a much softer innocent side of her character. Yet she still maintains her stroppy attitude towards her mum and Tom on occasions but it is nice to see Mika when she softens and the caring side come out. She does this when Izzie needs her support most.

THERE IS A NEW STUDENT, BRETT, AT WATERLOO ROAD AND IT'S AN IMMEDIATE ATTRACTION FOR MIKA. WHAT IS IT SHE LIKES ABOUT HIM?
Mika can't believe her luck with Brett when they first meet! She thinks he is 'Gobsmackingly gorgeous' he is cool, clever and funny and then he invites her around to his house! Wow! And then her so called 'mate' Leigh-Ann throws a spanner in the works to say the least! Mika and Brett have one thing in particular in common that they can both sympathise with. And this is problems with their parents. Brett's father is an embarrassment to him and Mika's current family arrangement, after Tom moving in and now Lorna coming to stay, couldn't be more embarrassing for her. Brett and Mika get on really well and I think they are both ambitious individuals.

MIKA HAS COMPETITION FROM HER FRIEND LEIGH ANN WHO ALSO LIKES BRETT, LEIGH-ANN LURES MIKA INTO A SITUATION THAT GETS OUT OF HAND. TELL US WHAT HAPPENS:
When Mika goes round Brett's 'mansion' to do french homework together, to her disappointment she finds Leigh-Ann there. She had thought it was more of a date! So when she arrives at his massive house, Brett invites the girls down to his den where he has a bar with cocktail makers etc! Leigh-Ann encourages Mika to have a proper drink by making her feel geeky and un-cool when she says she doesn't need alcohol to have fun. When Mika gives in, Leigh-Ann makes her a really strong cocktail and throughout the night she gets Mika drunk. Leigh-Ann then prompts a striptease and Leigh-Ann helps a very drunk Mika take her top off, in which she gets tangled, Leigh-Ann pulls her bra down and takes topless photos of Mika on her mobile. Mika is mortified and storms out.

HOW DOES MIKA FEEL WHEN SHE DISCOVERS LEIGH-ANN HAS SET UP A HATE WEB PAGE DEDICATED TO HER?
When Mika discovers that Leigh Ann has set up a hate site dedicated to her she is totally mortified. She feels so betrayed, especially as Leigh-Ann isn't just a random person, she is supposed to be her best friend. I think what makes matters worse for Mika is that she and Leigh Ann have in the past shared all their secrets so she finds all these all over the internet. She thought she could trust Leigh Ann and when this happens she becomes totally distraught and on her own. Mika is also extremely angry as she doesn't deserve all this embarrassment and victimisation. Leigh-Ann constantly makes digs about Mika's situation at home which makes Mika even start resenting her mum and Tom. She feels totally isolated. Mika even at one point thinks Brett has something to do with it and is annoyed at herself for believing that he may like her and for allowing herself to get drunk. There is a lot of confusion.

MIKA TURNS TO STEPH FOR ADVICE. WHY DOESN'T SHE GO TO HER MUM?
Mika although once close to her mum Izzie doesn't feel she can turn to her as Mika blames, Izzie for a lot of what she is going through. She's cross her mum is causing her so much unwanted attention at school, embarrassed everyone knows her and Tom's business. At a later stage when Izzie shouts at Mika, Mika tries to explain all this to her mum but Izzie doesn't believe her. So Mika feels rejected even at home, while her younger sister Chlo seems to be just coping and getting on with it. So Steph Haydock becomes a life line for Mika as she is the only one that listens. And to be honest Steph Haydock isn't your average teacher, so Mika has no problems telling her everything. Steph catches Mika when she is at her lowest point and she's utterly devastated. So all it takes is for Steph to take a bit of genuine interest in Mika’s situation and she opens up completely and tells her the whole thing.

BULLYING IS AN ISSUE IN THIS SERIES. IS MIKA INVOLVED?
Bullying is defiantly an issue for Mika as she is right in the middle of it. She is the subject of a cruel internet hate site.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO GIVE ADVICE IN REGARDS TO BULLYING, OR TAKE IT YOURSELF?
Fortunately, I have never been bullied but I did come across some bitchy girls at school, which I think most girls do. But as my mum always tells me, don't bite! Just rise above it; don't waste time thinking about it and the best revenge you can get is remaining yourself and coming out the better person.

If you are being bullied I think you should always try and tell somebody. I am extremely fortunate that my mum and dad are my best friends and I could tell them anything that was bothering me but I have found through my research if you aren't able to tell your parents or a teacher for whatever reason, there are many alternatives provided by some amazing charities for example Childline 0800 1111, NSPCC and www.beatbullying.org.

WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT RECORDING WATERLOO ROAD?
The crew are brilliant! All the cast and crew get on so well. They work so so hard and such long hours but they are still all so lovely and patient and fun. There is so much I love about the job and I enjoy every little bit that I couldn't possibly pick, but a lot of the scenes in our house with Jill, Jason and Katy were fun! Jason, who plays Tom Clarkson, just takes the mickey out of me and is such a comedian he and Jill just make me and Katy giggle!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE STORYLINE THIS SERIES?
There are too many great storylines this series to pick a favourite! I really enjoyed working on the bullying storyline, as I feel it is something a lot of children and teenagers can relate to, and I feel it brought out more depth to Mika that the audience hadn’t particularly had an opportunity to see yet.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING IN WATERLOO ROAD?
I love having the opportunity to work with such experienced actors. I learn a lot from watching and discussing things. And having such a great cast and crew allows me to take advantages of that. This series due to the nature of the storyline I have worked much closer with the directors, Barnaby, Jim and Farren especially and I think that had helped me develop and deliver a stronger performance.

WHAT DID YOU DO BETWEEN SERIES?
I finished filming Heartbeat (which I was filming along side of waterloo road) in March and went on to work in Birmingham to do an episode of BBC's Doctors which was great. Doctors was my first ever job so to go back there for a bit was really nice! The storyline they gave me was nice gritty too, which is always fun! In February I went to London for the weekend, with my mum and her two best friends, Yvonne and Charmaine. My mum works incredibly hard for Greater Manchester Fire Brigade and herself and her colleagues were invited to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace! We stayed at a beautiful hotel and explored London! I love London but don't get to go there as much as I'd like to so it was lovely to be there with mum, I was extremely proud she's amazing! I also went to Gran Canaria with my friend Heather; it was my first holiday abroad without parents so it was an experience, a little wild!! I missed my dad, mum and big bother Philip though - you can't beat a family holiday!

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP LIKE WITH THE OTHER CAST?
I feel I get on well with all the cast, both older and younger. The older cast are great for advice. If I'm in two minds over something I often ask Jill Halfpenny or Denise Welch what they think! They are also very very funny! I don't know how Angela Griffin, Jamie Glover and Jason Merrells get through all their scenes together! They are always laughing and joking! The younger cast are brilliant too. We are a similar age and the majority live in Manchester so we have a lot in common, ie where we go out, gigs, concerts, clubbing! I have a lot of scenes with Katy Griffiths who plays my sister Chlo and Tom Payne who plays Brett. Katy and I get on very well; we discuss girly things like clothes and boys! Whilst Tom is great fun most of his jokes revolve around me! But I don't mind because he's usually right! He is also knowledgeable, so I grill him and nick his knowledge!!!

IF YOU COULD WORK WITH ANY ACTOR IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD IT BE?
Oooh that's a tough one! Well I have 3 favourite but I always add people on and chop and change depending on what films I've seen at the time. Up first is Charlize Theron. I first saw her in Monster and she amazed me. Her total physical and metal characterisation blew me away. It was a complex role and she didn't just cope with it she made it her own and excelled in it - amazing! Number 2 is Reese Witherspoon! Admittedly I first loved her as Elle Woods in 'Legally Blonde' (one of my favourites) and then saw 'Walk The Line'! In which she plays a totally different character and in my eyes doesn't put a foot wrong! And third and finally Jennifer Aniston! As much as I think 'Friends' is genius and Rachel is one of my favourites. I think the thing with Jennifer Aniston is I just love her as a person and I think we could be good friends!!! (Very sad!) Also, if I'm listing favourite actors, how could I forget Audrey Hepburn! She is inspirational!!

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PROJECTS LINED UP AFTER WATERLOO ROAD HAS FINISHED FILMING?
I have been given a play to have a look at and I've been put up for different things but nothing is for definite yet so I'll wait and see!!!