A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH (5/11/04)

From ICTheWharf.co.uk:

FORGET looking wistfully out of a cab as you bid your on-screen farewell: you can't beat a dramatic death scene when it comes to making a memorable exit from a TV show. And Clapham-based actress Beth Cordingly certainly did it in style. She talks to SARAH WATERFALL about her final curtain and life after The Bill...

"I'M PLEASED that I had such a massive storyline," says Beth Cordingly, aka PC Kerry Young in the hit police show.

She was the fourth victim of Sun Hill's mysterious sniper - having got shot and then left to die in Smithy's [Alex Walkinshaw] arms last month.

Making such a final exit from the series that has kept her employed for more than two years was not a decision that Beth took lightly though.

"I asked to leave early - I was meant to go in January - but the storylines were so good I wanted to go out on a high and leave at a climax point.

"But that gave them the right to do what they wanted to me," she explains.

And it's been an exhausting storyline to film.

"I was working six-day weeks and 12-hour days since January. I've never been so tired in my life," she says.

As well as boosting her profile, The Bill introduced Beth to her boyfriend, Australian actor Dan MacPherson, who also left the show this year.

When the pair got together, fans loved the fact that life was mirroring art - well, for a while anyway - when PC Young got romantically involved with Dan's character, Cameron Tait. When Dan left the show, questions were raised about what would happen to their real-life relationship.

"There was this whole thing when Dan was leaving The Bill about us having this long-distance relationship and what was going to happen," sighs the 26-year-old.

"When Dan first finished he went back for a month to see his family and friends but he's been here ever since. He's working between England and Australia. It's not a big deal and it's been fine."

When Beth also handed in her resignation, many assumed she'd move to Australia.

"I'm based here and I want people to know that. I love Australia but I've been building a career in the UK and that's what I want to pursue."

And now she's left the police drama, the couple have been spending time together. First they took a trip to Barbados for some much needed R&R.

"The holiday was my first treat to myself having left The Bill. I went for a week with my mum and then met up with Daniel. It was really nice just to chill out. I wanted to go away as soon as I'd finished filming because I knew I'd feel a bit weird, it's such a big episode of your life.

"It's been gorgeous just being able to hang out and see each other," smiles Beth.

"We went wakeboarding last week. There have been moments, especially on weekends, when we've said, 'How nice is this? We can make plans without worrying that the schedule will change and we'll have to cancel'.

"We've been to a couple of showbiz things and that was fun. At The Bill you often got invited but I was always too tired to go. But we're not going to go mad on that front - we like seeing friends."

Brighton-born Beth is determined to stay calm now that she's essentially unemployed.

"At the moment I'm feeling positive and hoping that my natural instinct to panic doesn't kick in. Everyone keeps saying, 'You've only been in the country one week, calm down'.

"I'm a big worrier but I've got a lot better. I think that's going out with an Australian - they've got no time for it."

The actress - who graduated from Birmingham University with a double first in English and Drama - has plenty to keep her occupied apart from Daniel.

"I've got some ideas for books - they're all in notebooks under my bed so I've really got to start getting it together rather than sitting round waiting for the phone to ring. I enjoy writing but I don't want to give up acting, it gives me energy. But it is nice to have time to do things.

"I've got a friend who's also an unemployed actress and she's good at organising. She said I needed routine in my life and got me started on Bikram yoga. I'm cleaning all the rubble out of my flat so it's a bit more feng shui.

"And I've been able to do some bits with ChildLine. I told them to use me now, while I'm free. So I gave a speech to 80 delegates the other day. I think child abuse and in particular child sex abuse is the most horrific thing."

No doubt acting work will soon disrupt Beth's free time. She's hoping that her next role will be a complete change from PC Kerry Young.

"I'd love to do some period drama because it would be so different. I'm hoping that casting people don't only see me as one thing.

"I don't have any regrets that the door's shut at The Bill. It's sad because it's the end of an era but it's never good to go back."