SACHA Parkinson first found fame playing Sophie's girlfriend Sian on Coronation Street, before going on to star in Channel 4's period drama The Mill.

As the second series is released on DVD, she talks to RACHEL POPOW about mean girls, the downsides of soap stardom and why she's keen to get in on the action

Did you enjoy going back to The Mill for the second series?

It's been an amazing feeling to go back to something that you were so proud of and that you worked really hard on.

When we did the first series, the cast only saw it as a stand-alone four-part drama, so you can imagine how happy we were when it was re-commissioned, especially as it was a brilliant show that we were so passionate about.

For newcomers, how would you describe your character Miriam?

Miriam is a spiritual person, there's a sense of innocence about her because she has no preconceptions about anybody and she makes her own judgments.

It's a nice thing to play, especially with her relationship with Peter in the second series, because she's like a blank canvas - it doesn't matter what everybody thinks around her, she wants to form her own opinions.

You're currently filming the new series of Mr Selfridge. Will that be a more glamorous period look for you than The Mill?

I'm not playing the most glamorous character in Mr Selfridge, but just with the change in period, we are naturally more glamorous!

It is good to go from being covered head-to-toe in mud, with fake spots and dark circles under your eyes, to having a nice hairdo and neat, trimmed clothing.

Even though they are both period dramas, they are very different. I play a character called Connie Hawkins, and while Miriam is very sweet and innocent, Connie is feisty and ballsy. It's an interesting part.

A lot of people first became aware of you when you played Sian in Coronation Street. Was that a good experience?

It was a great experience. I didn't go to drama school, so Corrie was my training, it's where I learned about all the technicalities of being on a set, and I will be forever grateful for that.

Also, it tied in so neatly with my personal life - I was able to finish college because it was only round the corner, and I could still have my teenage life with my friends and experience everything that I would have done had I not been an actress.

If another soap role came along, would you be interested?

Now I've come out of a soap, I have so much admiration for all the cast members and how they deal with the media, the hours and everything that comes with it.

When I was in Corrie, I just became used to it, but now that I don't get recognised on the street every two seconds, when it does happen, I get panicky, so I don't know if I could deal with that again.

It just becomes a lot about your personal life, everyone wants to know who you are dating and what you're wearing, and that's sad because all these actors are working so hard to put on a show, and sometimes that work is overlooked in favour of what they are doing on a night out.

You've taken on some varied roles. You recently played a mean girl in My Mad Fat Diary...

I loved My Mad Fat Diary! I'm obsessed with the 1990s and Oasis, and I was saying 'I have to be in this'.

Then I messed up one of my auditions, so when I got it, I literally screamed.

It was one of the best jobs ever, the costumes were insane, and playing a mean girl was so much fun.

Through school, I was picked on a little bit - I hate saying that, because I feel great about myself now, but I was - and there were two girls in particular who I based my character on.

So now I'm happy in myself that I went through that, because without it, I would not have been able to play Stacey the way I did.

We'll soon see you in The Driver with David Morrissey. What can you tell us about that?

It's a three-part drama for the BBC, and it's based around a cab driver in Manchester, who gets sucked into a lifestyle that seems appealing because his current life is just going at a steady pace.

I went to the screening last week, and it got an amazing response, which is always great to hear. It's just a great, action-packed drama, I love it - there are so many car chases in it, and they spent so much time and money on them that it's like something out of Fast & Furious.

I love action films, so when I was watching the screening, I couldn't take my eyes off it, and I'd read the script!

Would you like to star in an action film in the future?

I'd love it! I want to play male parts all the time, it depresses me that there aren't many powerful women characters out there.

Esther from The Mill is a prime example - yes, there are no car chases because it's set in the 1800s, but she's such a dominant, powerful character. I'd love to play someone like that.

l The Mill Series 2 and the box set of The Mill Seasons 1 & 2 are now available to buy