FROM hard-faced soap cop to hard-done-by wife . . . actress Freya Copeland, now appearing at the Bolton Octagon, told Caroline Dutton about life after Emmerdale . . .

FREYA Copeland says she doesn't regret killing off Angie Reynolds, the rampant policewoman who famously rocked her tiny Yorkshire village when she fell for bad boy Cain Dingle.

"I really don't miss Emmerdale," she said. "Only for the reason that I had to live away from my husband for four years. I just really wanted to go home by the end.

"I would go back to soap acting, though, because you get so many rewards. Soaps are so big and you have the security, which to an actor is precious. Generally you are out of work because there's such difficult competition."

Freya is back in the limelight playing Beatrice, the lead character's wife in Arthur Miller's classic tragedy of love, honour and betrayal A View From The Bridge at Bolton Octagon.

And she says it's good to have a fresh challenge.

"Beatrice, because of the situation of her family, is a hard woman but a caring woman," she said.

"She's probably the biggest challenge I've had because I haven't experienced the things she experiences. Every other part I have been able to relate more to. I can't relate to her on many levels. I have never experienced the hardship she does."

And the fact the action is set in 1950s Brooklyn didn't help.

"I've never done a play with an accent before," said Freya, who hasn't lost her Stafford accent despite having lived in London for years.

"When I auditioned I just did a general American New York accent and then we had a dialect coach who's brilliant. For a week I spoke in character until the rest of the cast started getting quite irritated by me."

Freya is obviously thrilled at bagging such a juicy role but it's when we start chatting about reality TV that she really comes to life.

"I had no opinion of Jodie Marsh before this," she explodes when asked about Celebrity Big Brother.

"Even if she was being a bit gobby, they were three grown men attacking her like a pack of wolves."

Is reality TV something she'd consider in the future? Should we be watching out for her face popping up in the jungle or on Celebrity Love Island?

"When I was in Emmerdale I did get offered to do some of those things but I always said no. Fame Academy would be my ultimate one. I would kind of like to do it but I wouldn't actually do it. I would be a wreck. I'm an absolute reality TV freak though.

"I really couldn't do Big Brother but I've got friends who are actors who would be absolutely brilliant in there they're total fruit loops."

l See Freya Copeland in Arthur Miller's A View From The Bridge, until Saturday, February 25 at Bolton Octagon. For tickets call 01204 520661