Suranne Jones thinks now is an "amazing" time to be a TV actress.
The 39-year-old star believes things have progressed hugely since she appeared in detective show ‘Scott & Bailey’ for the first time in 2008 and there are now lots of strong parts for women because people are much more accepting of female-driven shows.
Speaking to Marie Claire, she said: "It’s an amazing time for television, [and] the parts for women my age are great. When we used to promote ‘Scott & Bailey’, series one and two, people were saying, ‘So, this is about two female detectives?’ You would never say, ‘Ah, so this is about two male detectives?’
"It’s outrageous that people said that six years ago. But not one person ever said to me about ‘Doctor Foster’, ‘So, this is about a female doctor?’ "
The ‘Doctor Foster’ star became a household name playing Karen McDonald in ‘Coronation Street’ and her family were thrilled when she landed a role in the iconic soap.
She said: "Acting was something I always really wanted to do and, when I left school and was old enough to get an agent, ‘Coronation Street’ was like the thing to get into. When I got it, my Grandad Bob and Nana Bertha were like, ‘What?! Oh, my god!’ "
Despite her acting success, Suranne insists she isn’t naturally talented and has had to work hard to find her "place".
She said: "There are some people who are naturally talented, who just have it coming out of their ears; they just sparkle with talent. Some people – and I put myself in this category – don’t fit a mould. I always looked a lot older. I was as tall as a giraffe, even at ten, but I found my place and I really worked at it."
Suranne Jones says amazing time to be actress
