MY TV LIFE Rachelle Lefevre

Canadian Rachelle, 41, played vampire Victoria in The Twilight Saga films. Her many TV roles include Boston Legal, Swingtown and Under The Dome, and she is currently in thriller The Sounds

What was your first TV memory?

I grew up in Canada and the first things I remember were cartoons but when I was nine my mum used to let me stay up and watch LA Law and Dallas. I was the only girl in class who knew JR had been shot. Or even who he was!

What was your first TV appearance?

It was in a horror series called The Hunger. I played a girl dying of smallpox in her bed. I had no lines. I didn’t have a dressing room with my name on the door, just a closet that said “Smallpox Girl”.

Who was your first TV crush?

Johnny Depp! He was in a few 80s TV shows but then he starred in a comedy film called Cry-baby which changed my life. I can quote it! Johnny was my first crush and will also be my last crush. He’s number one but Idris Elba is right up there in second place.

What is your favourite current show?

It was Game Of Thrones for the longest time. But I’ve started watching The West Wing over again, just to imagine what it’d be like to have intelligence back in politics. Is it wrong to want elected politicians to have integrity?

Which TV show would you take to a desert island?

The West Wing, but if I can’t choose that again, I’d take The Good Place – a great sitcom, devilishly good. It’d cheer me up if I was trapped, which is ironic as they’re trapped too.

What TV show would you like to put out of its misery?

Any reality show where they just scream at each other and bicker. I don’t mind talent shows, just the ones where people want to be famous for no talent other than being obnoxious. I think they lower the bar for humanity.

Guiltiest TV pleasure?

I love survival shows like Bear Grylls. Actually my favourite, and my absolute guilty pleasure, is Naked And Afraid, although the big aspect of being naked doesn’t feature nearly enough!

What are you up to at the moment?

I’m a parent!

I’m surviving with two kids and trying not to drink at 2pm!

Stream The Sounds on Acorn TV, new episodes on Mondays.

GARRY BUSHELL