Filming them was the toughest challenge actress Georgina Bouzova has faced. She found herself shedding real tears - and her own father couldn't bear to watch.

The 29-year-old actress was expecting to be horrified by the results, but she was in for a surprise. Luckily telly bosses didn't expect her to shave off all her hair - she wears a wig for the scenes where she's going bald.

"My long hair had always been my crowning glory," she says. "I thought it made me sexier. I've never had it short and always hid behind it when I was feeling insecure.

"But having short hair has given me much more confidence - and more sex appeal, too. I'm going to keep it like this. I might even take it one step further and go brunette."

"Men prefer the classic big-boobed, blonde image," she says. "I'm not a bimbo, but in a way I enjoyed playing up to that stereotype because when I started to speak they'd realise I wasn't stupid."

"The sun's out and I want to have lots of fun with lots of different men," she says. "When it gets to October I might want a regular boyfriend, but for now, it will be the summer of love.

Georgina is determined not to pair up with another actor, however. "It's such an insecure profession that it would be a bit fraught," she says. "Unless he was George Clooney, that is...

"I've been in long-term relationships for most of my adult life, so it's like I'm reliving my younger years. I would like to settle down eventually, but I'm busy concentrating on my career at the moment."

Her dedication to her work is paying off. Casualty has a regular audience of more than eight million and is thrashing ITV's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

She was just 18 when she developed a rare form of cancer that occurs after a "molar" pregnancy - when an egg is fertilised outside the uterus. Instead of resulting in pregnancy the foetal tissue develops into a cancerous tumour.

Luckily, Gena has recovered, and her tough experience provided Georgina with inspiration for Ellen - who, after initially thinking she is pregnant with Harry Harper's baby, instead develops the same type of cancer.

"I spent hours talking to her," says Georgina. "It was completely humbling and I was in awe of her strength and courage. Having never known anyone with cancer before, I didn't really understand it.

As well as changing her appearance, Georgina spent time at Bristol Cancer Help Centre to research her dramatic role. "I spoke to counsellors and spiritual healers," she says. "I've since started having spiritual healing myself. It transfers energy from the universe into the body and makes you feel great.

"I've also read books by cancer sufferers and watched films about cancer so I could empathise with Ellen. When you see me on screen, the tears are real.

It's affected Georgina's family, too. Seeing their daughter without hair has been hard for parents Ivan, 61, and Rita, 48, who work in a family furniture business.

But he's sworn to secrecy, and it's not until next week, when she collapses while out shopping and is rushed to casualty, that her colleagues realise what's going on and see her bald head for the first time.

"I've never taken drugs, but I used to take my health for granted," she says. "I've been going to the gym a lot to get rid of the stress and cut out wheat, caffeine and dairy to get rid of the toxins in my body."

With her full figure and healthy appetite, she clearly thinks "lollipop ladies" such as Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie are harming hordes of impressionable teenage girls.

"I went to an all-girls school where there was an 'apple for lunch' culture. But although I went on the odd crash diet I never had an eating disorder. I didn't have enough will-power."

Nor is she keen on the fad for cosmetic surgery. "There's no point," she says. "Why put yourself through unnecessary operations when there are people out there who are genuinely ill with cancer?

"Besides, I like my curves. My favourite part of my body is my tummy. It sticks out a bit, but I think it's cute. I've got a big bum, too. But look at J-Lo - she's not done badly out of hers."

"Without naming any names, I don't understand people who've become famous just for the sake of it. It's empty, unfulfilling. They should do something worthwhile."

Georgina wanted to be a lawyer and studied in London to qualify as a barrister. But then she decided the profession wasn't for her and switched to acting at 23.

"I'm too emotional," she admits. "If I've got PMT I can even burst into tears watching Richard and Judy. It helps with acting - but not in the law courts.

There was also Second Nature, a film with Alec Baldwin. An impressionable Georgina was so bowled over that she couldn't think of a word to say - until she realised she was speaking to his double.

"I'm quite insecure," she chuckles. And nothing like trouble-maker Ellen, it seems. To date, her alter ego has blackmailed Abs, left him in huge debt and slapped Harry when he refused to believe she was pregnant.

This is cache, read story here