I’d never actually watched the show. The summer before the seventh season I got a call from my manager – I guess [the producers] had seen some of my work – and they wanted me to come in and screen for this character. I said ‘no’, a week passed and they asked me again - and I said ‘no’ again.

Finally, thankfully, my manager twisted my arm and forced me to go in. Shortly afterwards I fell in love with the role and the rest is history. I’m so glad my manager pushed me.