Since making her debut on Casualty last month, Hannah Spearritt has certainly been making waves playing loose cannon Mercedes Christie. The former S Club 7 singer – who has made the transition to acting in recent years with roles in TV’s Primeval and Death In Paradise – reveals that she’s enjoyed every second, mostly because she’s never played anyone quite like her. “Some things you audition for just don’t excite you,” admits the 34 year old. “But this was the opposite – Mercedes is a manipulator and she’s constantly making bad decisions. She’s completely different to me and I wanted the part from the moment I read the script.” Mercedes, a cash-strapped, drug-dealing single mother on the run from debt collectors, was introduced when she attempted to mug Casualty regular Noel Garcia, leaving him in such a bad way that he was taken to A&E. She’s since been blackmailing Big Mac, who she discovered witnessed the attack but failed to come to his friend’s rescue. This week, Big Mac’s secret is about to be exposed and Mercedes causes even more of a stir when, forced to sell drugs by her pimp Shelle, she ends up seriously injuring herself and finds herself at Holby General. Will this be the push Mercedes needs to sort her life out or is she destined for a life of crime? Hannah reveals all to Kirsty Nutkins…

Your character has really caused a stir in Casualty…
She has! Mercedes is desperate for money – her boyfriend has left her and she can’t even put food on the table for her little boy. I’d like to think that if she wasn’t in those circumstances, she would be a better person. Most normal people wouldn’t react the way she does. She has issues and feels stuck. I think she’s looking for a way out.

The drug deal she’s involved in goes wrong and she’s chased by the police. Tell us more about that…
Mercedes’ pimp, Shelle, gets Mercedes to do all of her dirty work. Mercedes is involved in a big drug deal, but she realises too late that she’s been busted by undercover police so she starts to run. She hits a dead end and climbs over a wire fence, and as she does she hits a rock. She’s seriously injured and, when she gets to A&E, they offer to call someone for her. She’s in a bad state so she gives them the name of Vince, her ex-boyfriend and the father of her son.

Did you feel nervous or intimidated joining a long-running show like Casualty?

There are lots of guest stars, so in that way you don’t feel like the newbie. I was apprehensive before my first day but as soon as I was there, that disappeared. It’s the warmest atmosphere on set – everyone is so supportive of one another.

Did you grow up watching Casualty?

Yes, I did. I watched it with my family until my twenties, when I tended to be out on a Saturday night! When I got the call and then got the part, I started watching it again. I’m really enjoying it and find it quite addictive.

You reunited with S Club 7 in 2014. Was that the last hurrah?

We had a great time and got on better than we ever had done before. I’m going to meet up with them all again, realistically in about six months once we all get our schedules sorted, and we’ll have a chat. Whether that means we’ll tour again, I don’t know. It would be lovely to do something again.

What are your acting plans for the rest of 2016?

After Casualty, I’m going to go away on holiday for a couple of weeks and then I’ll have a discussion with my agent and start auditioning again.

What would be your dream role?

I love anything set in the 1960s and I do like very theatrical things, like Game Of Thrones. I would also love to do a film, perhaps a romcom.

Would you ever move to America?

I’d prefer to stay here if I can. That’s a big move and I’m 34 now, so I’m not sure whether I want to start all over again. I’m single and in a way that enables you to consider that kind of move, but putting myself in another country might make me feel unsettled.

Would you ever do a reality show?

I’d do Strictly Come Dancing, as I love dance and it would be wonderful to dress up in those beautiful costumes. But I just don’t think I’d be very good at it – I’d probably be voted off first!
– express.co.uk