Friel was 'bullied' over 'Brookside'

Anna Friel has claimed that she was bullied by the public and the press after completing work on Brookside in the '90s.

The actress signed up to play troubled Beth Jordache on the Channel 4 soap in 1993, sticking with the role for two years before her character died in prison.

As well as killing off her violent father Trevor (Bryan Murray), Beth was best remembered for locking lips with neighbour Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson), providing the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss in the history of British television.

Speaking to The Times, Friel revealed: "That was the point when everything changed. The kiss itself was no big deal. It was just: 'Oooo, funny! You've got softer lips!' But we had no idea. When people hear my name, somewhere in the back of their minds they go: 'Brookside kiss!'"

The star told the newspaper that viewers would shout "dyke" at her in the streets for two years after she left the programme.

She also admitted that a sceptical media response to her career aspirations was difficult to handle.

Friel commented: "My father used to say that it was like bullying. 'You stay there! You're from Brookside! People from Brookside don't do that! You're not going to get there!'"

The actress has recently starred in Pushing Daisies, The Street and new movie Land Of The Lost.