When Jan Anderson, 28, landed the role as new Blue Watch cook Lisa Hill in London's Burning, she found her flat in Bow, East London, in the nick of time. And it was love at first sight...
Your flat has a very modern feel.
House - hunting was such a craxy rush. I's just finished working on Casualty and only had two days to find somewhere to rent in London. This was the first place I saw. As soon as I walked in I fell in love with the bright colours. The living room's yellow, which is my favourite colour. I find it inspiring to live somewhere where I'm surrounded by bold colours.
So how long have you lived here?
I moved in six months ago. Before that I lived in Bristol, where Casualty's filmed. When I took the job on London's Burning my top priority was to live close to work. It only takes two minutes to drive to the studio on Three Mills Island.
The outside of the building is very grand. What was it originally?
It's an old match factory. It was converted into apartments and renamed The Bow Quarter about 13 years ago. The complex has its own leisure centre with a gym, swimminmg pool, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. There's also a supermarket and a bar - it's live a mini holiday village!
Did you know East London well before you moved in?
I lived nearby in Walthamstow for five years with my sister when we were younger, so I felt at home straight away. I really like the area. I love wandering around markets at the weekend. Roman Road and Columbia Road markets are nearby.
Did you transport much stuff from your home in Bristol?
I just brought the basics. I'm normally a real hoarder, so it was good to leave my clutter behind. It's been nice living without being surrounded by so much stuff. With this flat I wanted to create a much more simple look. I like the feeling of space it has. I'm renting out the house I own in Bristol to my friend Angie, who's a runner on Casualty. Before that Kelly Harrison, who plays paramedic Nikki Marshall, and Zita Sattar, who plays Nurse Anna Paul in Casualty, lived with me beofre they found their own places.
Where do you shop for furniture?
Like most people, I go to IKEA for basics, but I have an impatient nature and hate queuing up at the end. I prefer looking round antique shops or junk shops that sell bric - a - brac from house clearances.
I like redesigning old furniture and using it in ways that you wouldn't expect. I once brought an old - fashioned bathtub and filled it with soil to make it into a huge plant pot. The material I used to make the living room curtains is from a sari shop in Bristol. The rainbow - coloured material has made excellent drapes.
Have you ever brought any furnishings and regretted it later?
I'm a real impulse shopper. If I see something I like, I snap it up. Very little that I buy matches. I wouldn't hesitate to cover antique furnishings with Indian - patterned fabrics. I like taking the best from different cultures such as Chinese, Indian and Moroccan, which then becomes a style in itself.
Are you any good at DIY?
I'd much rather do the painting and decorating than hire someone else to do it for me. I like being creative, and when I design things I can get the look I want. I make my own pictures, too. I had a collection of Little Miss books which I made into a collage. I cut the covers up, then made them into a picture. It looked really good once it was framed.
Have you ever brought back any treasure from abroad?
I brought my bedspread in Thailand when I was on holidat with my best mate Bee in February. I had a short break from filming and I wanted to go somewhere and completely chill. We visited Bangkok and two islands, Ko Samui and Ko Phangan. It was so relaxing. I didn't take any high heels or make - up. I spotted the bedspread on a stall on the beach. It's made from silk and is beautifully embroidered. It only cost £2.
Are there any possessions that you sentimental value for you?
The small wooden carvings I keep on the TV means a lot to me. It represents two figures hugging. My ex - boyfriend Dean [Francis, the former British and European super - middleweight boxing champion] brought it for me. He inscribed both our names on the bottom of it. We've remained good friends since we split. [Jan has been most recently linked with ex - Hollyoaks hunk James Redmond.]
Do you miss not having any outdoor space to relax in?
There is a balcony, but it's so small I can't even squeeze a deck chair out there. It doesn't matter too much because there's a large veranda with sun loungers in the middle of the complex. It's a good place to have barbecues when the weather's good.
Do you like living in a city?
I like the sound of the traffic buzzing by because it reassures me that life's still going on. Earlier this year, I took a short break in Snowdonia with my mum. We stayed in a cottage in the middle of the mountains and it terrified me.
I thought the scenery was beautiful, but after an hour I was yearning for people and noise. It was like being dead. Cities may be ugly and grey, but I feel more comfortable in them. I prefer motorways and buildings to mountains and beauty. Too much peace and quiet freaks me out.
Do you have any more acting work in the pipeline?
I'm filming a drama called Nuts And Bolts in Wales for ITV. I play a policewoman who's dating two guys at the same time and is totally self - obsessed. After that I'm in a British film called G2 alongside David Suchet. It'a a vampire movie set both in Victorian times and in the future. The film's being made in Liverpool, so I'll have to get house - hunting again. In this job you get used to moving around.
