Mealing: 'I'm sometimes like Connie'

Amanda Mealing has admitted that she shares some qualities with her no-nonsense Holby City character Connie Beauchamp.

In an interview with DS, the actress revealed that she only noticed their shared traits when she undertook a charity project last year.

The 42-year-old explained: "I'm an ambassador for Save The Children and last summer, I took three months off to concentrate on that. I ended up calling Ed Miliband and Dave Miliband and I suddenly realised that I'd become like Connie!

"If a situation's about me or for me, then I'm not like Connie at all. But when it's something like charity, I can be as driven and as passionate as Connie. It's quite shocking really!"

Mealing added that she often wants to be more like Connie when she walks away from a situation and wishes she had been more forceful.

However, asked whether she behaves like her at home, the star replied: "You're joking aren't you? I've got a 6' 5" husband at home with two boys - I've got no chance!"

Holby City reaches its 500th episode this week. The instalment, titled 'Bette Davis Eyes', airs tomorrow at 8pm on BBC One.

> Click here to read our interview with Amanda Mealing