SEXY SCENES

high-profile role has made Fiona a household name, and it means she regularly gets recognised.

But she takes it all in her stride, and isn’t bothered at all if fans catch her make-up free rather than looking like her uber-glam character, Priya.

“I am so unglamorous in real life,” she laughs. “People do recognise me when I come off set and I am all made up, but I do like being more natural, that is more me. I love just putting on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, although I always wear my little heeled boots because I am quite short.

“It is lovely to go to work and the make-up team make you look so lovely. But as soon as I leave work the make-up is off. I probably should feel more pressure to put make-up on, but as long as I am presentable and me, I am happy.

My focus is the job, working hard and being successful, not necessarily being famous. It comes with being in a soap, which is on every day.

“There is a difference being in a big show like Emmerdale than being a jobbing actress where nobody knows who you are. I just go with it.”

Emmerdale is on fire at the minute. For years the soap had been in the shadows of its rivals Coronation Street and Eastenders. But a series of huge storylines and dramatic performances from the cast have seen it leapfrog the competition to be named best soap at the British Soap Awards for the past two years running.

Fiona is proud to be part of the success and is relishing the chance to work on her big storyline, which is set to get tongues wagging in the village.

“I am absolutely loving it,” she says. “It is the best show right now and I am very, very proud to be part of it. I am very proud of everything we have achieved over the last few years.

“As an actress you just want to work and be busy, so it is great to have a storyline to get your teeth into.

“And I love Priya. She is feisty, she is a strong businesswoman, she has been through a lot.”

She is also enjoying getting to work closely with Anthony Quinlan, who