'I was born in Wallsend-on-Tyne and lived in Whitley Bay which is a very pretty North East seaside town.

At the age of 11 I moved to a London boarding house to attend the Italia Conti School of Dramatic Arts. I was away from my family which wasn't easy as the school was very competitive but it trained me to cope in a tough profession.

While I was there I worked professionally in TV dramas and commercials and, after I left, as a dancer and model touring around Spain and Italy which was great fun because of all the friends I made along the way,'