Perdita
18-05-2009, 06:17
DISABLED actress Leslie Ash is joining medical drama Holby City — just a year after suing a hospital for £5million.
The Men Behaving Badly star contracted MSSA — a strain of MRSA — while being treated for cracked ribs caused by a “frantic” sex session with hubby Lee Chapman.
Leslie, 49, was left in a wheelchair for six months and still needs crutches to get around.
But after five years away from acting, she is joining Holby City as tough executive Vanessa Lytton.
Before winning the role, Leslie had to go for her first audition in 30 years. And she told TV Biz: “I was scared! But I feel ready and I feel strong.
“Disability is misrepresented on television and it’s really fantastic that it did not worry the production team I was disabled.
“Vanessa is a meaty, hard part — and I don’t have to wear a uniform.
“She’s not had to work her way to the top and people resent her for it.
“She’s used her toughness all the way. I feel confident in myself as an actress and I’ve learnt to be realistic about things. I could have sat myself down in a wheelchair and just gone through life.
“But there was this defining moment when you say to yourself, ‘I am going to get up, I am going to work hard’, and you put one foot in front of the other.
“It has taken a long, long time and I’m not perfect, but I’m ready to be back at work. I am so pleased and happy they’ve given me this chance.
“They are very brave to have taken on a disabled actress. I can’t wait to be back on set. It’s the last piece of the jigsaw in my recovery. I’m finally back to where I was.”
Leslie starts filming next month but won’t appear on screen until October.
In 2003 she had collagen lip implants which went wrong, leaving her with a “trout pout”. And last year she made a documentary about the unregulated cosmetic beauty industry.
HOLBY City is on BBC1, on Tuesdays at 8pm.
From The Sun
The Men Behaving Badly star contracted MSSA — a strain of MRSA — while being treated for cracked ribs caused by a “frantic” sex session with hubby Lee Chapman.
Leslie, 49, was left in a wheelchair for six months and still needs crutches to get around.
But after five years away from acting, she is joining Holby City as tough executive Vanessa Lytton.
Before winning the role, Leslie had to go for her first audition in 30 years. And she told TV Biz: “I was scared! But I feel ready and I feel strong.
“Disability is misrepresented on television and it’s really fantastic that it did not worry the production team I was disabled.
“Vanessa is a meaty, hard part — and I don’t have to wear a uniform.
“She’s not had to work her way to the top and people resent her for it.
“She’s used her toughness all the way. I feel confident in myself as an actress and I’ve learnt to be realistic about things. I could have sat myself down in a wheelchair and just gone through life.
“But there was this defining moment when you say to yourself, ‘I am going to get up, I am going to work hard’, and you put one foot in front of the other.
“It has taken a long, long time and I’m not perfect, but I’m ready to be back at work. I am so pleased and happy they’ve given me this chance.
“They are very brave to have taken on a disabled actress. I can’t wait to be back on set. It’s the last piece of the jigsaw in my recovery. I’m finally back to where I was.”
Leslie starts filming next month but won’t appear on screen until October.
In 2003 she had collagen lip implants which went wrong, leaving her with a “trout pout”. And last year she made a documentary about the unregulated cosmetic beauty industry.
HOLBY City is on BBC1, on Tuesdays at 8pm.
From The Sun