IT SOUNDS a bit ironic when Helen Mackay announces she hates fish.

Given she's now selling it to the nation, the face of fish throughout the country in a national TV commericial.

"I hate fish," the Glasgow-based actress maintains, smiling.

"Or rather I hate the idea of eating fish. I'm not really sure why. Maybe it's the idea of swallowing the bones. But I can certainly live without fish in my life."

The 29 year-old fish phobic, and one of Scotland's top young theatre actresses, features in Aldi's national TV ad appearing as the young schoolteacher who asks her kids what they know about fish.

"When I got the Aldi job I sent their promo leaflet - which said 'Love Aldi - Love Fish' to my granny in Thurso," she says, grinning.

"And she said 'Helen, you're a complete phoney. You're appearing in an ad for fish - and you hate fish.'

"But I don't care. The ad is fantastic."

The profile which comes from the ad - which includes billboards across the country - is entirely deserved.

Helen is one of the hardest-working actresses around. However, she reckoned that growing up in Thurso would have been an impediment to career success.

"I always thought that because I came from the Highlands originally, working as an actress would be really difficult.

"At drama school it was suggested I try and dull my accent down a wee bit. It was thought you had to come from the Central Belt if you wanted to work regularly.

"But that hasn't happened at all. In fact, I seem to have created my own little niche."

She adds, smiling; In a strange way, the Highlands background has been a positive, and so has fish. It's like I'm drawn to Highlands work in theatre and television, and work with a fish connection."

It certainly seems to be the case.

"My first job out of drama school was in The Silver Darlings ( the story of Scottish herring fisherfolk ) with the late Kenny Ireland.

"And I've been numerous things involving fish."

Helen starred alongside Elaine C. Smith last year in Saint One, the Oran Mor play in which a fish shop assistant who gets washed out to sea.

More recently, Helen toured in David Greig's play, Outlying Islands, set on a remote Scottish island.

And she was a Highlander once again, when she appeared at the Edinburgh Festival last year in conspiracy theory play 3000 Trees, and picked up great reviews.

But Helen, who appears in an upcoming episode of DCI Banks, didn't land the Aldo commercial because of her north eastern background.

"I auditioned for the ad, like everyone else, and then found out it was filming in Thurso," she says, smiling in recall.

"But the director had no idea I was from Thurso. It was only when we began filming he realised I knew all the local fishermen, I knew the extras who were from my amateur dramatic group and the kids came from a school which my best friend teaches in.

"And it was a real joy."

Helen's Thurso accent however isn't that strong. "I can up it when required," she says, smiling.

The ability to play a wide range of characters, whether creating a Highland accent or something more southern-based, results in Helen being continually in demand. She's a panto star, and her recent radio play Big Sky broadcast recently on Radio Four.

And Helen, who appeared in the last Rab C.Nesbitt Christmas special, is also set to star in David Greig's adaptation of Alasdair Grey's Lanark, running at the Citizens' Theatre later in the year.

"It's great being so busy," she says.

"Sometimes nothing happens for a while and you start to think, 'I'll never work again.'

"Then the phone rings and suddenly everything changes, you're booked a few months ahead.

"What I've come to think is acting is about holding your nerve. Some can't take it and go and get a job teaching or whatever. It's a bumpy journey, but I don't mind that.

"And I do believe the harder you work, the luckier you become. And I thrive on the fact something can happen, right out of the blue. That's so exciting."

Helen lives in a flat in the southside of Glasgow with two other actresses, Michele Gallagher and Elidh McCormick.

"They're like a family," she says. The lady however does have a partner an electrical engineer.

"What I like about that is it's really healthy. I live in a flat with the girls and we have a support system, we can talk about the business but it's great having a boyfriend who loves coming to the theatre but who knows nothing about acting.

"We don't have to talk about my world."

Or fish? "No, I love talking about fish. Especially TV ads for fish," she says, smiling.

"It's just eating fish I'm not so keen on."