FRAN is 40 and was married to Peter, the manager of the deaf club, but the marriage failed because their relationship wasn't strong enough to cope with the consequences of the death of their only child. Now that she is a widow, Fran has to start trying to rebuild her life. She is emotionally vulnerable and is now desperate to have a child before it's too late ...

Played by...

FIFI GARFIELD was born in 1967 - her sister Paula was born 35 minutes after her! Fifi has been acting with the London Deaf Drama Group since 1986, but came to national attention when she displayed her flair for playing comedy while starring in a television ad campaign for text-phones. She followed this up with a series of comedy sketches performed with Jean St Clair, shown on See Hear, examining the problems facing Deaf actors in television. In 2003 Fifi won 'best actress' in the Remark! TV and Film Awards for her performance as Fran in Switch. In October 2004 Fifi broke new ground when she played the part of Paula in the radio drama All Fingers and Thumbs (BBC Radio 4). The writer, Alan Stafford, had seen Fifi in Switch and asked director, Dirk Maggs, to cast her in the role. In the early part of last year, Fifi played the part of a mother in a COI film about giving up smoking, which was targetted at the deaf community and subsequently shown on The Community Channel. Last Christmas, Fifi played the lead role of Anna Scrooge in William Mager's See Hear's Christmas Carol.

Ten things you always wanted to know about ...
Fifi Garfield

1  Describe yourself in five words.
Loving; amusing; bubbly; striking and creative.

2  When was your first kiss?
At a Butlin's Holiday Camp when I was 12. It tasted like plaster and I was worried that all boys tasted the same!

3  What's your most annoying habit?
Popping the bubbles on bubble-wrap.

4  What's the first thing you would do if you became President of the World?
Free tampons and pads for women.

5  Which person do you admire most - and why?
My Mum. She's been through a lot but she's a strong woman and she's kept her youthful looks.

6  What one item would you take to a desert island?
A razor - or I'd turn into an ape!

7  What's your best feature?
My full, sexy lips!

8  Are you anything like the character you play in Switch?
No! I don't look like that ... even without make-up!

9  What was your most embarrassing moment?
The day I ran towards the opening doors of the tube, tripped over a couple of tourists and landed in the carriage face down on the floor!

10  What's your favourite chat-up line?
"Wanna play Follow the Van?"

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