THE COMEDY CHAMPION

Taj Atwal, 34, got her break in the comedy Stella before appearing in Line of Duty as PC Tatleen Sohota. This April she stars in the film Memory

with Monica Bellucci

You left home at 16?

I was a handful: fearless and mouthy. I dropped out of college, but luckily they had me back.

I’m grateful they encouraged me to apply to drama school.

Did you realise what a phenomenon Line Of Duty was?

No, thank god, because I’d have been a wreck! They wanted me back but Kay Mellor asked me to do The Syndicate. It’s very hard to say ‘no’ to Kay. She’s like your mum.

Your first big role was in Stella

with Ruth Jones. Are you a comedy natural?

Yes, most of my career has been comedy. Indians and northerners use it as a deflection against the jibes they know are coming.

What are you doing next?

A Channel 4 comedy, Hullraisers.