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Monday, 3 March 2008

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Michelle Collins

Celeb Grilling - you ask the question

Michelle Collins is nervous when she sits down with Now. She’s wary about doing interviews, but quickly charms us with her down-to-earth attitude. She lives in London with her 11-year-old daughter Maia, but keeps her personal life strictly under wraps.

After finding fame on EastEnders, Michelle, 44, has spent the past decade trying to shake off Cindy Beale, but admits that the ghost of Mrs Beale still looms large in her life – despite her new role as reality TV judge Karina Faith in ITV’s Rock Rivals.

Would you ever appear in a reality TV show?
Sarah Helsing, Cumbria
The nearest I got to doing one was Comic Relief Does Fame Academy. I pulled out at the last minute because I got too nervous. I’ve been asked to do Big Brother and Dancing On Ice, but I don’t think they’re me – people would either be bored or think I was a bit of a moody cow. Never say never, but at the moment my daughter would probably kill me for embarrassing her.

What sort of reality TV judge would you make?
Yvonne Granger, York
I’d try to be nice, but I wouldn’t want to give anyone delusions about their talent. I think sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.

Would you ever go back to EastEnders?
Olivia Trent, Derby
Sometimes I think it might be interesting. I met Aaron Sidwell, who plays Cindy’s son Steven, the other day. It’s so strange the way she lives on, even though I’m not in it any more. It’s almost harder to shake Cindy off now than it was a few years ago. Sometimes I think: ‘Oh my God, I may as well go back!’ But other times I’m not so sure. Then again, they haven’t asked me for a while.

Sharon Osbourne or Dannii Minogue?
Lisa Ember, Winchester
Neither – I wouldn’t want to choose. I’ve met Dannii, but I haven’t met Sharon. Dannii and I used to live in the same apartment block and we share the same hairdresser.

Did you really appear in Baywatch?
Hannah Longden, Essex
No. That’s on the internet, isn’t it? Lots of people ask me about that, but if I’d hung out with David Hasselhoff I think I’d remember it.

What’s the worst audition you’ve ever had?
Charlotte Ringwald, Kidderminster
My agent sent me to an audition for a West End production of Gigli. I didn’t want to do it because I’m not a dancer, but he assured me it was a character role. When I got there it was full of dancers doing the splits, so I asked where the toilet was and left. I fell over on the way to another audition in the 80s, hurting my leg and ripping my leopard-print tights. I was bleeding and crying, so I hailed a cab to go home, but the cab driver thought I was a prostitute!

Is it true that you’ve starred in a Bollywood film?
Carl Morris, Croxteth
Yes, it was called Don’t Stop Dreaming. I really enjoyed doing it, but I didn’t get to sing or dance because I played the mother. I didn’t get to go to India, either, because it was filmed in Birmingham. The crew were great, but we had to eat Indian food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Do you ever wish you’d followed a musical career rather than an acting one?
Emma Paylor, Eversham
No, because I never felt as confident when I was singing as I do when I’m acting. I was in a 12-piece band called Mari Wilson And The Wilsations in the 80s. I left after 18 months because I knew I wanted to act. I still did a bit of backing singing and I did the theme tune to the TV series Sunburn, although I shouldn’t really boast about that. I never had a great voice, but these days that doesn’t seem to matter too much.

What are your guilty pleasures?
Rhiannon Scrivens, Stoke
Listening to Radio 4 and singing along to Barbra Streisand.

What’s the best thing about being a mum?
Trudy Cameron, Rugby
Having someone to love you unconditionally and unselfishly is amazing. My daughter tells me that she loves me every day. We have an amazing bond. She makes me feel safe. I hope I make her feel the same.

Would you like to have any more children?
Sam Dominguez, Tiverton
I don’t know because it would dramatically change my life, going from an 11-year-old to a baby. I get a bit broody sometimes, but with one child I have so much more freedom and it means I can give her more.

What’s your worst habit?
Jane Simmons, Lincoln
My daughter says I pout a lot, but I’m not sure that I do. I often play with my hair and I’m a bit untidy.

What’s your biggest regret?
Sara O’Donohue, Huntingdon
Not going to university. I’ve thought about going back and studying again and I might do it one day.

Who’s your dream man?
Rebecca Turner, Horndean
I need someone who makes me laugh, understands me and also has a sense of fun. I can’t go out with a man who doesn’t have a brain – he needs to be more intelligent than me, although that wouldn’t take too much! I’d rather go out with a man who isn’t in the business and would leave me to my own devices. I am seeing someone at the moment and I could say he’s my dream man, but I want to keep him private for now. n

Rock Rivals is on ITV1 at 9pm on Wednesday 5 March


Prize Question
What would be your dream TV role?
Lisa Jones, Bedford
I’d love to play someone like Det Supt Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect, or a part in Desperate Housewives would be amazing. I love playing strong female characters, even if they are usually slightly flawed.

EMAIL US… WIN £50!
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By Karen Dunn