Anna Friel 'hated soap star label'

Anna Friel has revealed that she was tired of being known as a soap actress and party girl in the UK.

The 31-year-old, who moved to LA with actor David Thewlis two years ago, said the British media constantly brought up her stint in Brookside and her failed romances.

She told Esquire: "It was getting to be a joke here. Even if I was 80, my epitaph would be 'Brookside. Used to be in a TV soap.' How long is it now? Thirteen years.

"It's just really boring. People talking about the same things: Brookside, Darren Day, Robbie Williams, party girl. I just think it's time to let it go."

Friel, who rose to fame playing Beth Jordache in the soap in the early '90s, now stars in US show Pushing Daisies.

She recently revealed that she loves her life across the pond.