Titmuss 'building career the hard way'

Abi Titmuss has insisted that she is not taking short cuts to build her acting career.

The former nurse and model told Metro that she wanted to become an actress ever since she took part in a production of Life Of Brian at her university drama club.

Titmuss said: "I studied acting part-time when I was a nurse. It was a real struggle but then I came into the public eye.

"I'm building my career the hard way. I'm treading the boards rather than getting cameos on TV. I did five theatre shows last year."

Of her controversial rise to fame, she added: "I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now if it wasn't for those experiences with the press early on. It's a symbiotic relationship.

"I've been trying to stay out of the tabloids recently. I want to earn respect and make a good living and be proud of the work I do.

"People are starting to think of me more as an actress. You can make a tabloid story out of anyone's life and I honestly wasn't that bad. I'm a different person now. I've grown up a lot."