Simone Lahbib plays Isobel Anderson

It took her a few days to adjust to the pace of life in the peaceful Highlands, but Simone Lahbib is relishing her role as Monarch's latest feisty female lead.

"When I arrived up here I was shocked by the beauty of it all but also, having been a city girl and lived in London for almost ten years, I was thinking, 'Oh my God. How am I going to cope with the quietness? What do people do up here for fun?'

"But everyone's been really kind showing the new girl the ropes. When I'd just arrived and moved into my apartment and was wondering where the hell I was, Dawn and Rae turned up with a couple of bottles of wine and filled me in on how it all works, which was incredibly thoughtful of them," recalls Simone.

"Being up in The Highlands your stress levels totally vanish and your whole rhythm slows down to a pace that is very relaxing. The place kind of wins you over.

"Standing by the loch and doing a scene surrounded by this beautiful scenery just lifts your heart.

"It's a pleasure to be able to work in this environment and I am so pleased to get the part as it's so lovely for me to be working back in Scotland and so near to my family as well."

The sassy Stirling-born actress plays Isobel Anderson, a successful career woman who returns to Glenbogle to sort out the lease on her late grandmother's farm.

But her visit to Glenbogle fast develops into an emotional link with the past and Isobel is forced to decide whether she wants to return to the bustle of city life in Edinburgh or rough it in Glenbogle and make a go of the farm herself.

"Isobel spent a lot of happy times at her gran's, they were obviously very close and must share a lot of characteristics.

"Glenbogle had a huge affect on Isobel as a child and now her grandmother has died, the spirit of the place has just drawn her back."

From their very first meeting, Isobel's relationship with new laird Paul is, at the very least, fiery.

They seriously rub each other up the wrong way. She's convinced he's just an outsider playing at being a laird and doesn't take him seriously.

The city slicker is a proud woman and hates the fact that she might need help, especially from Paul.

But it looks like their love/hate relationship could eventually develop into something more.

"Isobel's no shrinking violet. She's bright, determined and very proud which is one of the things that stands in her way a little bit.

"There are times the laird does want to help her out with things, but her pride gets in the way," reveals Simone.

"They can't stand each other, but we are all suckers for a love story. There's a lot of will-they-won't-they about their relationship and hopefully the audience will be thinking, 'Go on - just kiss her, man!'"

Like Isobel, Simone - who has a Scottish mother and a French father - is close to both of her grandmothers.

"They are both in their early eighties and are very strong, feisty women and still very lucid.

"My Scottish grandmother grew up in the Glasgow Gorbals and is very quick witted, very funny and enjoys having a laugh.

"So does my French grandmother, who I am named after actually. She lives in Cannes and is extremely glamorous. You just wouldn't believe that she is the age that she is.

"She gets up in the morning very early and applies her make-up perfectly and wears beautiful clothes and keeps her figure nice.

"In the morning when she goes into the cafe the older men still look at her because she's still got a great bust," says Simone, laughing fondly.

"They both inspire me to a huge extent because they have had tough lives in different ways. They are two women who didn't particularly have strong men behind them, but they still managed to smile and have a laugh.

"That kind of deep rooted humour will see you through any occasion."

Simone initially trained to be a ballerina, but went on to study drama at Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh after being offered a small role in the movie The Girl In The Picture.

Her first big TV break came in The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star on Channel 4 and she played Governor Helen Stewart in three series of prison drama Bad Girls.

This year she starred in two-part thriller Fallen opposite Jonathan Cake.

When her family found out she'd signed up for Monarch Of The Glen, they were nearly as thrilled as Simone herself.

She says: "They were over the moon when I told them I was going to be in Monarch, especially because it was a nice family viewing show, one that my nephews and nieces could actually watch me in for once.

"We'd all been talking about it so much that by my first day I was a bag of nerves. The first time I saw the house I was like, 'Wow'.

"Just now I haven't had many scenes in there so I hope that one day the laird will marry Isobel and she can move in," adds Simone, grinning.

"I've had a good snoop round though and it's very grand. I think Isobel could be very at home there."