Nancy Francesca ('I'd Do Anything')

Welsh actress Francesca Jackson left I'd Do Anything on Sunday night after facing Ashley Russell in a sing-off in front of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. Her performance of 'What's Love Got To Do With It?' had previously prompted the judges to debate whether she had the roughness required to play Nancy on stage. Having worked in the West End in a production of Rent Remixed, the 24-year-old was understandably disappointed not to progress further in the competition. DS caught up with Francesca to talk about her time on the show.

How are you feeling now that you're off the show?
"I'm okay. I was absolutely devastated at the time but I'm trying to find the positives in it now. It all happened for a reason."

Did you expect to go further considering you've had more stage experience than the other girls?
"To be honest, in this competition I think that went against me as opposed to for me. I don't think being a professional helped at all but obviously I wanted to go further than the fourth week. I dreamt of playing Nancy and really wanted to play that with all my heart."

What did you make of Barry's criticism that you were too glamorous for the part?
"It was a strange comment because two weeks previously he told me I was rough enough for the part. I'm not a glamorous person at all, I don't wear make up in real life. I'm not a very glamorous girl. Never mind, it could have been worse."

How did performing for the Wicked crowd compare doing to the live shows?
"I was absolutely less nervous than I have been for any of the live shows. I felt much more back at home and felt like I was doing something that I know I can do. On the live show I've been far more nervous and terrified than I have been for any part I've ever played! I think it's because you're not performing like you are on stage, you're performing as an audition and you get criticised at the end of it. It's never performing for the love of it, it's performing to fight."

Were you upset when the papers ran a story about you working with Denise on Rent?
"I was upset about that. The papers were always going to mention it but I can't stress how much she didn't have any influence on me getting into this competition. We literally had not spoken since I started this job, we haven't been allowed to. If Denise didn't think I was good enough for that part then she absolutely would not have put me through. She's a very honest woman and she will always keep to her word."

You went to the same theatre school as Connie Fisher. Did that encourage you to apply for the show?
"It did. She helped me with her words of wisdom before I went in, just telling me to just enjoy every minute and that only good could come from it."

What qualities do you think are needed to make a good Nancy and who do you think can win?
"To have a raw talent, to be rough, very East End. I'd love to see Sarah or Samantha win but I think it'll be Rachel or Jessie that win it."

I'd Do Anything continues Saturday at 7.05pm on BBC One.