Shona McGarty has "always wanted" to be a midwife.
The ‘EastEnders’ star – who plays Whitney Dean on the BBC One soap – admitted if she hadn’t turned her hand to acting she could now be helping women deliver their babies, because she has had a lifelong passion for midwifery.
She said: "I’ve always wanted to be a midwife.
"I was there when my best friend had her little girl, and I was in the delivery room when my sister had her second little boy.
"I loved it. It was amazing; I think women are incredible.
"Plus, if someone was to suddenly go into labour, I’d know what to do."
The 28-year-old actress – who has starred as Whitney for 12 years – admitted she would love for her character to be part of a cross-over ‘Emmerdale’ episode one day, but perhaps not in the winter time.
When asked what other soap she would take Whitney to, she said: "My loyalty is with ‘EastEnders’, but if I could, I’d take Whitney to ‘Emmerdale’.
"I watch all the soaps, and have done for years, and I think ‘Emmerdale’ always has really good storylines.
"It would be freezing up there in the winter, though."
And as well as midwifery, Shona wouldn’t mind mucking in on a farm one day, because she loves animals so much.
Speaking to Inside Soap magazine, she added: "I’d like to work on a farm, actually. I love animals, I used to go to the farm a lot when I was little, and I really love that sort of thing."