Toby, surprisingly, has managed to restrain himself from taking a swing at Ruth Winters, played by Georgia Taylor. According to Matthew, their on-screen characters are like "brother and sister - two six year olds. They niggle at each other constantly and, although Ruth would never admit it, there's a real affection there. They are raw with each other because they know each other so well. It's an interesting relationship." 

Fortunately, Georgia and Matthew are great friends and spend most of their time laughing between takes. Matthew says, "I've learnt so much from Georgia . . . she's so unpretentious and so un-self important . . . she's actually one of my best friends off-set. Me, her and Janine Mellor [who plays Kelsey ] all went on holiday." 

So, have there been any particularly memorable moments or scenes from his time on Casualty? "Probably my first episode. I don't drive but Toby does. I had to sit in this car and was towed by a truck around the back streets of Bristol, pretending to drive and be an action hero . . . It's also been great fun working with Derek Thompson [who plays Charlie ] as he's such a pro, and with Tristan Gemmill [who plays Adam ] and Georgia in resus. They make it so much fun that the time just flies."

For an actor who graduated from drama school in 2007, Matthew has been incredibly successful. What's next on his agenda? "I've just had a few weeks off, but I'm due to start rehearsals on 5 January for a play called Shades at the Royal Court Theatre in London. It's part of their young writers' season. It's really nice to get back to the theatre for a little while." 

And is there anyone in particular that he'll miss from his last 18 months on Casualty? "Georgia and Janine in particular, but really absolutely everybody," Matthew says. "Me, Georgia and Janine all go round each other's houses plus all of the cast go out for curries together, or to a bar or a party and everyone's included. It's such a friendly set!"

BBC Casualty Website December 2008

Top^

Georgia Taylor, 28, made her name as teenage tearaway Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street 11 years ago. But since swapping the cobbles of Corrie for the consulting rooms of Casualty, she's had her fair share of tears, turmoil and trouble in her role as the cold hearted doctor Ruth Winters.

Georgia describes her character as, "very responsible and articulate, and seems pretty confident. But underneath it all, she's something of a troubled soul. She's very self critical and won't allow herself to make any mistakes."

But it looks like the ice queen might be thawing, after she falls head over heels sharing a steamy kiss with her boss - sexy surgeon - Nick Jordan. Georgia says: "Ruth's been making puppy dog eyes at Jordan since he walked through the door. It's hero worship - he's this powerful, sexy charismatic man who also happens to be a surgeon."

Georgia says it's easy filming romantic scenes with her hunky co star Michael French, who plays Jordan: "Michael is gorgeous! And it's good fun trying to show Ruth's sexy side."

ITV's This Morning Website 20 November 2008

Top^

Casualty's Georgia Taylor 

I've just bought a house in Bristol so I'm spending a lot of evenings in, relaxing with friends at the moment. 

Janine Mellor who plays Kelsey in Casualty lives up the road from me, as does my best mate Karen, so they often come round on a Friday night for a gossip over a glass of wine and takeaway. It's always Chinese food because I've only found one place so far.

I've spent the last five years as a jobbing actress so it was a big decision to put down roots. The majority of the Casualty cast aren't from Bristol so when I started they were so supportive. You have to do it in stages until you know your contract is going to be more permanent. After two weeks in a hotel I rented a room from our assistant director for just over a year.

We usually film big accident scenes on Saturdays, so I'm up at six in the morning and on set by eight for a 10-hour day.

We tend to socialise after work more on weeknights. There's always a birthday or leaving do and we take over a little place called the Curry Cafe. The rest of the time I'm living on M&S ready meals because I haven't got a cooker yet.

I absolutely love watching The X Factor followed by a trip to my fabulous local called The Star and Dove. It has a lovely homely atmosphere with gorgeous food.

I tend to start Sunday off with a big session in the local David Lloyd gym and stay for lunch. Unless I'm decorating, that is. Painting my high Victorian ceilings works a lot of muscles!

After the gym I go for a walk in Victoria Park. It has a lovely feel with people playing football and walking dogs. There's a real community spirit in my area with lots of artists. They even have art trails where amateur artists open their homes for the weekend and you can wander in and out looking at their work.

I'm still looking for interesting pieces for my house so I like browsing in antique shops and meeting up with a friend in town for coffee by the waterside.

I'm also spending a lot of time in Ikea at the moment, but I'm not pressurising myself to rush the renovations. It's a comfortable home and so nice having a spare room for my brother to visit. I'm really enjoying having my own sanctuary.

Daily Express Saturday Magazine 15 November 2008

Top^

Ruth's delighted when Jordan shows her his bedside manner... 

Trainee doctor Ruth Winters finally has something to smile about this week, when she ends up in bed with dashing surgeon Nick Jordan! The junior medic has had her eye on her superior ever since he arrived at Holby City General's emergency department, and is delighted when he invites her back to his flat...

"As far as Ruth is concerned, Jordan's the whole package," grins Georgia Taylor, who plays the smitten young doctor. "He's very confident, attractive and flirty. Plus he's a surgeon - a role she aspires to."

Until now, Jordan hasn't shown any romantic interest in Ruth, but her work has displayed a lot of promise and he's encouraged her to progress within the department. So when a tricky situation arises and the doctor needs someone to assist him with a life-saving procedure, Ruth's only too happy to oblige.

"A patient named Malachy is brought in with a serious heart condition and needs urgent surgery," says Georgia. "But a power cut means he can't be transferred to theatre immediately. The surgeons must either wait for the power to come back on - during which time Malachy could die - or perform an operation in the ED, which is very unorthodox and risky.

"Being a maverick, Jordan opts to do the procedure himself," continues the actress. "There's uproar in the department, and everyone's against him - apart from Ruth, of course, and a new nurse Jay."

With his two young charges by his side, Jordan sets about saving the man's life, and successfully operate. However, while her colleagues later meet up at the pub, Ruth instead chooses a more intimate way to celebrate their achievement...

"Right at the end of the episode, we see Ruth and Jordan share a kiss in a taxi," smiles Georgia. "It's pretty obvious what's going to happen next!"

But Georgia insists that the pair's night of passion isn't something her character enters into lightly. "Ruth hasn't had a boyfriend since she was 16, so to sleep with Jordan is definitely a big deal," she explains. "For her, it's serious, so if he turns around and decides that it was a mistake, I don't think she'll deal with it very well at all..."

Hair Today...

Viewers will see Ruth arrive at work this week with a swanky new hairdo. And Georgia reveals that it's not just her character's desire to impress Jordan that's behind the change of image. "I'd been begging the producers to let me get my hair cut, as I was so bored with it," she laughs. "But they had to find an appropriate place in the storylines. Luckily, Ruth's crush on Jordan means she's been thinking about her appearance a bit more!"

Inside Soap 15-21 November 2008

Top^

Georgia Taylor reveals why she's so different from her alter ego, the troubled Dr Ruth Winters 

Ruth Winters, Casualty's newest junior doctor, isn't exactly a bundle of laughs. Obsessed with her career and lacking in social niceties, she has made it difficult for her colleagues to warm to her.

It was only when Ruth spiralled into depression and attempted suicide that she gained the compassion of the rest of the A&E - although they're still along way from bosom buddies.

Actress Georgia Taylor, who plays the troubled medic, admits she couldn't be more different from her alter ego, although she's loving every moment of playing such a complex and interesting character.

"She's nothing like me, thank God," she laughs. "I'd hate to be like her because my relationships with my family and friends are so important to me and she's someone who has consciously isolated herself.

"I can't imagine - though I have to because it's my job - feeling the way she does. Ruth seeks out loneliness. To a degree I'm like her in that I'm passionate about my work; but it's not my life. And that's one reason she's so challenging to play."

For Georgia, work may not be the everything, but she certainly made a success of her career since her early days on Coronation Street as tearaway teen Toyah Battersby.

She was 17 and still at college studying theatre arts when she landed the role and she hasn't looked back.

"I never imagined I'd make a career out of acting," she smiles. "When I started on Corrie, I went to see the college principal and said, 'I've got this job for five months. Can I do it and come back when I finish?'

"You just don't foresee that 11 years on you'll have gone on and forged some kind of career."

Fitting in with the Battersbys

Does she regret not finishing her studies and going on to drama school as she'd originally planned? "Oh no, I was just lucky I missed a couple of steps. It was extraordinary circumstances; it wasn't that I was a brilliant actress - because at 17 I certainly was not! I was just very lucky and my face fitted. I kind of fitted in with the Battersby family and got on with the other actors very quickly in the audition process."

Six years later, Georgia felt confident enough to leave the comfort zone of Weatherfield and landed parts in a string of dramas including Life on Mars, Lilies, Where The Heart Is and Blackpool, in which she landed a leading role.

She has also had small appearances in two movies - The History Boys and, more recently, The Bank Job. Now the 28-year-old has just extended her contract on Casualty so she'll be a fixture on Saturday nights at least until the end of the year.

"I was really ready for doing a series because I'd not done one since Blackpool which was a few years ago now," she explains. "You miss being able to formulate relationships with people. When you're doing short jobs such as a couple of weeks on a film, it's not the same; you're in and out and you don't get to feel part of the team as much and to really invest in a character. I was definitely looking for something that was slightly long term - but I certainly didn't expect to be still in Casualty nearly a year on!"

This week, it's Ruth's first day back on clinical duties but she's clearly still not ready. Having been out of action for a few months, she has lost her nerve yet still feels unable to ask for help when she needs it.

"She has issues she hasn't dealt with and freaks out in recuss and runs out, humiliated in front of her colleagues," Georgia says. "Things are very black and white for Ruth; you're a success or a failure. And being unable to perform this procedure, she sees herself as an out-and-out failure.

"She suffers a relapse into a severely depressed state, thinking if she hasn't got a career, she hasn't got anything. The implications are she steals some tablets and it's left to the viewers to decide whether she'll attempt to take her life again..."

Chatting to Georgia, it's clear she's enjoying not only the gritty storylines but life in Bristol, where Casualty is filmed. She admits she misses her family and friends back home in Manchester but has a strategy for dealing with homesickness.

"The people you work with have to become your substitute family because you're 200 miles away from home so I throw myself into socialising when I'm away. I accept all the invitations, go out to dinner and go to all of the parties.

"Certainly this show has one of the most welcoming cast and crew I've ever worked with and I can see why I've ended up staying longer than I thought I would," she continues. "I've made brilliant friends including Janice Mellor who plays Kelsey - everyone calls her my wife because we spend all our time together!

"When I go home, I don't just potter in the house, I make a point of spending time with the people who matter to me. I see my family and go out for dinner with friends and see their babies, so when I get back I'm exhausted. I have real quality time with people."

When it comes to romance, Georgia says she's single and happily so. She can't envisage settling down and having children - at least, not for a long while yet.

"Because I'm single, getting married and having a child seems quite far away. It feels like a million miles away for me!" she says. "It's because I'm really happy with my life as it is. But then you don't know when you're going to meet someone who's going to sweep you off your feet.

"Obviously, if I met someone things might change. I'm very happy for my friends who are having kids, but they're in different situations."

One of her best friends is Jane Danson who plays Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street and off screen is happily married with a young son. Jane returned to the soap after a lengthy absence but for Georgia, that's not a career move that she plans making any time soon, even though her former character is mentioned in Coronation Street from time to time.

"They always say, I've been to stay with our Toyah,' and I think, 'Have ya?'" she laughs. "They phone her, too!

"But I wouldn't want to go back for a fleeting visit. You spend years almost trying to get away from a character; you have to in order to work. So if you go back, you have to make a definite decision you're going to go back for a certain length of time and be associated with that character again.

"So at the moment that's not for me but that's because I'm working and I'm happy. Anyway, obviously, right now I don't want to play Toyah - I want to play Ruth." 

Hello Magazine 29/04/2008

Top^

The A&E ward of Holby General is about to be rocked by a secret affair. Actresses Sunetra Sarker, Georgia Taylor and Gillian Kearney reveal all. 

Sunetra on Working With Georgia

Meeting up with Georgia Taylor has been a joy for Sunetra, too.

"We're in a lot of scenes together and have to stand with our backs to each other sometimes just to stop ourselves getting the giggles," she says. "We'll be checking the monitors or a person's pulse trying to seem like doctors, but of course we don't really know how to do it. Georgia will have a very sincere look on her face and I'll just catch a look at her and crack up!"

Georgia Taylor 

It's only been a tough time for Ruth Winters after taking time off to recover from her suicide attempt. The once-confident junior medic tried to hang herself in February after misdiagnosing a patient and then spent several weeks in a coma before regaining consciousness.

Ruth's unhappiness stems from a tragic family background, which she's still not come to terms with, and now it's beginning to affect her work. She's totally lost her nerve and Georgia thinks it could take her some time to regain it.

"Ruth was really nervous about returning to work, especially because her colleagues have now seen her vulnerability," explains Georgia, 28, who joined the show last September. 

"She hates to show any kind of weakness. Her confidence has been knocked out of her, which is a complete contrast to the arrogant doctor she was a few months ago. She's been put on non-clinical duty so she can't even practice medicine, which is the one thing she loves. And even though everyone on the ward tries to instill confidence in her, she still feels very isolated."

Despite her struggles, Georgia loves exploring the complicated nature of her character and doesn't want her to be brought out of her introverted self too much.

"I hope she doesn't, because at the moment she's quite clinical and cold," she says. "Ruth's not evil but she's not brilliant socially and I really like playing that - it's what makes her interesting."

Whereas Ruth doesn't socialise with anyone on the ward, Georgia counts many of her Casualty castmates as friends and tries to see them outside of work as often as possible.

"Sometimes we can meet up three times a week," grins Georgia, who moved down to Bristol from her Manchester base for the show. "Certainly once a week we'll do something. I live close to Janine Mellor [Kelsey Phillips] so we spend a lot of time together, either getting in a takeaway or going shopping. She's now one of my best friends.

"We're all really good pals, though, Sunetra, Gilliam, Janine and Susan Cookson [Maggie Coldwell] and I all went out for dinner the other night and were saying we're like the Northern collective. Not that we exclude people! We were all loud Northern women having dinner and lots of wine! Because we're all away from home, you become each other's family and friends. You're certainly not on your own."

Georgia is currently single, however, and she says she couldn't be in a better place to make the most of her freedom.

"When I go home to Manchester, most of my mates are married or have kids, but in Bristol there's quite a lot of us at Casualty who are single so it's kind of like party time. I've been in a relationship for most of my twenties so it's nice to be on my own and there are plenty of people to go out with."

So what kind of man would lure her away from the single scene? "Someone who's creative and funny and that I fancy. I do like an 'indie' boy, who either has curly hair or a guitar! I have been dating but it's good to have some time with your friends and family. I've obviously started a new job, too, so there's a lot going on."

With her character's storyline set to become more complex, that looks likely to continue. And unlike Zoe and Jessica, an affair isn't on the cards for Ruth. So how would she react if she found out about Zoe and Jessica's antics?

"Although Ruth might disagree with it, there's no way she'd interfere because she has no interest in anybody's personal lives," says Georgia. "There are times Ruth finds Zoe's behaviour  inappropriate, but she respects Zoe and aspires to be like her, so lets her get away with it."

Whether she does or not, only time will tell.

Extract from Daily Express Saturday Magazine Article 12/04/2008

Top^

Georgia Taylor (Casualty's Ruth) 

What's the best showbiz party you've been to?

I took my mum to An Audience With Tom Jones about 10 years ago, and that was really good fun because he had some brilliant people on it with him. I'm not really a Tom Jones fan, but it was all very showbiz. My mum was dead excited, and got to meet loads of famous people.

What's the best freebie you've ever blagged?

I went to some kind of beauty show at GMex in Manchester once, and they were really kind. They recognised me off the telly and gave me loads of free fake-tan stuff.

Where's the strangest place you've ever been recognised?

I'll tell you what was weird - I was recognised in a pool once, when I was wearing a swimming hat and goggles! You could barely see my face, so I couldn't believe it.

What's the worst thing about being on telly?

It's very difficult to plan your life. You can't really book time off, so I've missed weddings and birthdays since joining Casualty.

Who's the nicest celebrity you've ever met?

Paul O'Grady is just lovely. He's a big fan of Corrie and loved the Battersbys, so I've been on his show a few times. He's completely genuine, and researches his guests well.

Have you ever been star-struck?

Not star-struck exactly, but I was excited when David Duchovny walked past me in New York. It was just because he's someone you wouldn't normally get to see.

Inside Soap 28/02/2008

Top^

After her Casualty character's shock suicide attempt, Georgia Taylor talks us through this week's revealing follow-up episode...

Last week we saw Casualty's perfectionist young doctor, Ruth Winters, try to hang herself, but what made her take such desperate action? In a special episode this week, while Ruth is in a coma, we see a series of flashbacks which show that, in the run-up to her suicide attempt, the hard-working medic was struggling with a tragic past and a seriously bad day at work. Former Coronation Street star Georgia, 27, reveals why Ruth felt the only way out was to take her own life...

How is Ruth's troubled past revealed?

Harry finds her diary, which she's been keeping since she started at Holby General. As he reads it, viewers witness the events Ruth talked about. It's all new material and things you didn't know about Ruth. It's as though she has had this whole secret life.

So why does she try to kill herself?

It has been brewing for years. We find out that her mum killed herself, her brother's in prison and that she's had a really turbulent relationship with her father. She has felt isolated for quite a number of years and then, on the day it happens, a patient is admitted who she believes is drunk. She misdiagnoses him and he dies as a result of her mistake.

We take it Ruth doesn't handle that very well?

It's the straw that breaks the camel's back. But also the diary reveals there are other events that contributed to her mental state on that day - events that we didn't know about...

Such as?

She befriends a surgeon called Rachel. Ruth has an awful lot of respect for her and really cares for her. But then she discovers that Rachel's got cancer, which Ruth finds devastating. She finally gets close to someone and then they might not be around much longer.

Doesn't she also get a knock-back from a man?

Yes, she misreads the signals from another doctor and is mortified when he doesn't feel the same. For someone like Ruth, to open up at all is a massive thing; getting rebuffed is embarrassing for anyone, but for her it's the ultimate humiliation.

Sounds like the day from hell?

Yes! She actually thinks hanging herself is a very pragmatic and practical solution to her problems. It's not an emotional thing, or a cry for help. She doesn't want to get sacked and has nothing else in her life, so she believes it's the only way out.

Why doesn't she ask for help?

Because she's got into this habit of being on her own and of shutting people out. Then, as things get worse, maybe she does want to ask for help, but she can't break this habit she's in.

Do you understand Ruth's need for perfection; is it something you have ever experienced?

I can't identify with her level of depression, fortunately, but I can identify with the need for perfection. It's quite a common trait in actors because so often you're told you're not right. You go for auditions and don't get the job, which can be incredibly frustrating. For me it does make me constantly want to be better and I'll think, 'Right, they won't turn me down for the next job because I'll be so brilliant they won't be able to.' It's the feeling that you always have something to prove that I can identify with.

How do the rest of the staff react?

Maggie, especially, feels she should have seen it coming, but questions are raised with all the staff about whether they could have done more. People did reach out to Ruth, but maybe they gave up a bit too soon?

How did you cope with such an intense storyline?

It was the most full-on schedule I have ever done - 13-hour days, six days a week. It's a big responsibility as well; they've given me this huge storyline, which is great, but it really rests on my shoulders. If people don't like it, it's probably because they don't like me in it. If it's a success, that's great but if people hate it, I'm sorry, but I did work really hard on it!

Can Ruth come back from this?

She stays in a coma for a few weeks and I don't want to say whether she survives or not. If she does wake up, I don't know if she can resume her career. With someone like Ruth, the chances are she will be so humiliated that everyone has seen her vulnerability that she will put her defences up even more. The other possibility is she addresses her issues and tries to get help, but whether that happens remains to be seen.

And on a happier note, how are you enjoying working on Casualty?

I'm loving it, I really am! My home is Manchester but I've made loads of new friends here in Bristol and feel really settled and happy!

TV Times Magazine 09-15 Feb 2008

Top^

As Casualty's Dr Winters goes over the edge, Georgia Taylor talks about the reasons for the medic's meltdown.

Since joining Holby City General as a junior doctor, Ruth Winters has been dogged by a catalogue of errors and near misses. And her knack of passing the buck when she makes mistakes - plus her frosty, cheerless personality - has made her few friends. No wonder staff members have nicknamed her Chuckles!

'But what happens this week pushes her to absolute breaking point', says Georgia Taylor, who plays Ruth.

Problems start when she misdiagnoses a man reeking of alcohol. Ruth skips over essential tests that would have revealed him to be not only sober but seriously ill. 'Because her father is an alcoholic, Ruth has complete contempt for drunks. But she jumps to the wrong conclusions and, as a result, the man dies...'

This time, instead of shrugging it off and blaming someone else, Ruth is deeply affected by her blunder, and decides to end it all.

'Ruth appears to be arrogantly self-centred and self-assured, but behind closed doors it's a very different story,' reveals Georgia, 27. 'When she's on her own, all she feels is guilty and worthless.' The result is a cliffhanger that will leave viewers gasping. 

Next week, we'll find out more about Ruth's story in a series of revealing flashbacks - and whether she survives. 'They'll find out about the double life that she has been leading,' says Georgia. 'I hope it will make people more sympathetic to her. 

'Basically, Ruth is a good person. It's just that she has been battered by life. Her past is dreadful - her mum committed suicide, her brother is in prison and her dad is an alcoholic. She's done unacceptable things, but her flaws are born out of being lonely and vulnerable.'

Georgia says she found the filming draining. 'It meant more or less two months of acting full-on depression. I used to joke that there was absolutely no need for make-up to make me look haggard - by the end I could provide my own dark shadows!'

Georgia tells us she's told her parents not to watch Saturday's episode because they'll find it too shocking. When you watch it you'll see exactly why.

Total TV Guide Magazine 02-08 Feb 2008

Top^

Dr Ruth Winters hits rock bottom in Casualty this week after misdiagnosing a patient - with tragic consequences. 

Since arriving at Holby City hospital last autumn, junior doctor Ruth Winters has been having a tough time both personally and professionally. She hasn't done herself any favours by refusing to accept help and has become isolated from her colleagues.

This week her whole world comes crashing down when a man is admitted to hospital smelling of booze and she assumes he's an alcoholic. It brings back memories of her father and she has no time for him, ordering an inappropriate course of treatment without properly considering the case.

It transpires he has a serious medical condition and had stumbled into a supermarket spirits display, but by the time Ruth realises her mistake it's too late and the patient dies. Devastated by her error, the young doctor is pushed to the brink of despair and takes drastic action...

'Her job is her life so if she loses that then she has nothing,' says Georgia Taylor, who plays the tortured medic. 'She's isolated, has no contact with her family, no friends and is in a high-pressure job with no one to turn to.'

Playing loner Ruth hasn't been a bundle of laughs for the former Coronation Street star, but Georgia wouldn't have it any other way. 'I knew that Ruth's storyline was leading up to this. She's gradually been falling apart for months.'

It's five years since Georgia, 27, quit as Toyah Battersby in Corrie and despite parts in Blackpool, Life On Mars and The History Boys, she admits that it can be tough to shake off a soap role. 'I've done a lot of different things but I still get sent the same kind of parts, so Ruth was too good an opportunity to miss,' she says.

Although she's now living in Bristol where Casualty is filmed, home will always be Manchester and Georgia is still close to Weatherfield. Jane Danson (who plays her former screen stepsister Leanne) and Jennie McAlpine (Fiz) remain two of her closest friends.

'I have a flat in Manchester and what's really lovely is that my local pub is like the Granada TV bar so I always manage to bump into someone I know.'

With Janice Battersby and Leanne still firm fixtures on the Street, the door is always open for Toyah's return but Georgia is in no immediate hurry. 'I don't know if it's been too long, but I'd never say never. It would be a challenge. Five years on, and anything could have happened to her.'

After working on Ruth's meltdown, the actress is looking forward to relaxing and loves nothing more than socialising with her Casualty mates. Georgia is, however, happily single now. 'Going out to dinner with friends is one of my favourite luxuries and I also try and visit the gym so I can then go out and eat a pudding! I am dating and stuff but that's kind of it at the moment,' she reveals.

Casualty has been a learning curve for her in many ways - not least picking up medical jargon and some first-aid techniques. But the actress reckons that she still couldn't be relied on in an emergency. 'Can you imagine if I cocked up?' she laughs. 'The tabloids would have the headline, "Have-a-go TV doc kills someone!"'

TV Quick Magazine 02-08 Feb 2008

Top^

Former Coronation Street star Georgia Taylor may have a sexy new look, but she refuses to be a pin-up 

Georgia Taylor knows that she'll have to do something pretty phenomenal, stupid or bad to shake off her Coronation Street alter ego Toyah Battersby. Despite a remarkable physical transformation in the 10 years since she first appeared on the soap, pretty much everywhere she goes she's asked about the gobby teenager.

It seems swapping the blonde hair for a cool dark cut and slimming down isn't enough to fool the public. Even starting a new role in BBC drama Casualty hasn't helped her get rid of the teenager. But Georgia doesn't seem to mind, and she's comforted by the fact that she's known for her characters rather than her cleavage. 

"I've never been a sex symbol or a lad's mag girl, nor would I want to be," reveals Georgia, 27. If my reputation was as a sexy young girl then I'd have to keep that up. Thankfully, that isn't the case. In a way it's liberating as my roles have always been about character. Because of that, I don't feel I've got to worry about pretty young things snapping at my heels.

"Getting older has given me a chance to play more interesting parts." And that's exactly what Georgia is doing in Casualty as Dr Ruth Winters. 

With a new role also comes a cooler and much slimmer look. But Georgia claims it wasn't a conscious decision to lose weight. "I had some time off and I took up swimming, then I stopped eating rubbish and just felt much better for it," she says.

Lucky old Georgia. But unlike skinny stars who religiously diet, she's quick to admit that her regime is a little hit-and-miss. "I'm an all or nothing girl. These days I'm either not exercising and eating bad food all the time, or I'm at the gym five days a week. A doctor wouldn't recommend it, but it's the way I am," she says.

She may not be a slave to the scales but Georgia clearly cares about her image, and confides that it's hard to escape pictures of herself from her days as Toyah. "I really hate them!" she says of the Corrie publicity photos, taken when she was 17. "I look terrible, especially in those hot pants. People tell me I look so much better now but I still get confronted by those pictures!"

Toyah was Georgia's first major role and it involved dramatic storylines, including a brutal rape. She remembers her time on the Street fondly, but the strong plots came with a downside. "It got to the point where the writers didn't really know where to take Toyah. Because she'd been a victim, the writer's didn't want to give her flaws and that made her less interesting to play," she says. "I knew after that it was time to go."

So after waving goodbye to Weatherfield, she spent two years building her CV with roles in BBC dramas Blackpool and Lilies, as well as making her movie debut in The History Boys. Now she's settled into another big role playing Ruth in Casualty. And there's no let-up in the drama stakes, with the junior doctor currently caught up in a storyline which sees her make mistakes which threaten patients' lives.

"Ruth's a troubled soul, and that's what makes playing her enjoyable," Georgia says.

When the role came up, it was meant to be temporary, but now she's signed up for 18 months. "I didn't think I wanted to do a long-running show again, but once I'd started filming, they offered me more and I jumped at it," she says.

However, Georgia's love life is less well mapped out. She split from her musician boyfriend Mark Eyden in January after seven years. "I think we were just too young when we met," she reveals.

And there's little prospect of Dr Ruth steaming up the screen in the near future either. "Ruth never gets any action," Georgia jokes. "I said to the producers: 'It's not going to happen is it?' And they said: 'Sorry, no'."

Maybe next season then, as Georgia certainly looks ready for romance - even if she does think she's getting old. "I've noticed I've started to get a few lines. Botox is tempting but I'd never consider it. Getting older is frustrating, because when I was 18, I had fantastic skin," she says. "I look back and think: 'Blimey, I didn't know what I had!'"

News Of The World Sunday magazine 11/11/2007

Top^

New recruit Georgia Taylor is about to set pulses racing in BBC1’s hit medical drama

Introverted junior doctor Ruth Winters makes no attempt to bond with her new colleagues when she arrives at Holby General tonight, but actress and new Casualty star Georgia Taylor took no time at all to make friends with her cast mates. In fact, she’s even been on holiday with two of them already.

“I’m the complete antithesis of Ruth, I hope!” laughs the 27-year-old star who found fame as Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street. “Ruth’s a cold fish, whereas I’m more of a sociable person. I love meeting new, interesting people and there’s such a diverse mix at Casualty. The cast is a quarter of the size of Corrie, so you get closer to people a lot quicker. I couldn’t have wished for a warmer welcome.

“I’ve had to move down to Bristol from Manchester for filming, so they’ve kind of replaced my family and friends. I’ve spent so much time with them in the last couple of months. Most of us aren’t from Bristol so it’s like everyone’s on location. “We’ve had lots of meals out and Ian Bleasdale, who plays Josh, organises curry nights once a week. I’ve also been over to his for Sunday lunch because he’s such a great cook!

“I’m really good friends with Janine Mellor, who plays Kelsey, and we’ve been on holiday to Turkey together with Peter England, who’s joining as the new receptionist. It’s amazing.”

Ruth is a long-awaited change for Georgia, who left Coronation Street in 2003 after six years on the soap. Since then she’s appeared on stage and screen and her TV roles have included Blackpool with David Morrissey, Life On Mars with John Simm, as well as episodes of The Royal, Where The Heart Is, New Street Law, Lilies and Red Cap.

Until now, however, her roles were always characters much younger than she is. “I feel for the first time in my career I’m playing an adult, which sounds odd because I’m 27. The opportunity to play a woman and a young professional was something that hadn’t come my way. It’s a new dynamic.”

Despite moving on from Coronation Street, Georgia is still in contact with her old cast mates, especially Jane Danson, who plays Toyah’s sister, Leanne Battersby. Since Jane returned to the Street last year, she’s made no secret of the fact she’d like Georgia to go back, too. So is she tempted?

“Jane would be the biggest pull for me to go back, although I have no plans to,” she replies. “It would just be nice to work with her again because we have such a close bond. She’s like the sister I don’t have.

“It’s strange because I haven’t seen her for two months, being in Bristol. When I’m in Manchester we see each other a couple of times a week because the Corrie set is just around the corner from my flat. Even if it’s just her popping round in her lunch hour for a sandwich and a gossip.”

Georgia, who’s been single for seven months since splitting with her long-term boyfriend, now has dark hair rather than the lighter colour she’s sported for most of her roles. And she doesn’t believe that blondes have more fun.

“I love being dark – it makes me feel much sexier,” she admits. “I thought they might ask me to lighten it when I went for audition at Casualty, but they loved it and it helps get me into character.”

The actress admits that she found it tough getting to grips with the medical terms in the Casualty scripts. “We’ve been shown things like how to take blood and we also have medics on set every day to explain procedures,” she reveals. “We’re told how to pronounce words, but getting my head around medical jargon has been the hardest thing for me. I’ve always been pretty quick at learning lines, but it takes time to get the phrases in your head.”

Georgia’s last stint in hospital was when she was 10 years old, after she was admitted with a life-threatening condition. “It was all a blur for me, but I had mycoplasma pneumonia and on top of that I had encephalitis, which is a swelling of the brain,” she recalls. “It was touch and go. Doctors didn’t know if I’d make it. I was completely oblivious to it all because I was so out of it on drugs. It was much more traumatic for my parents.”

Georgia, who grew up in Wigan, has been acting since she was a child and, after joining Coronation Street at 17, has been in the limelight for some time now. However she’s maintained a low media profile and is still very down to earth, which she puts down to her upbringing.

“I’m lucky that I have a very grounded family and good friends I’ve had all my life,” she says simply. “I was so naïve, and excited joining Corrie and was determined to prove myself because I was 17, straight out of college and hadn’t been to drama school.

“I thought I’d better learn as much as I could and was focused on that. Anything else passed me by a bit, even though me, Jane, Joanne Froggatt [who played Zoe Tattersall in Coronation Street] and Steven Arnold [Ashley Peacock] would go out in Manchester every now and again.

“It was more about the work and trying to be good. I kind of grew up and was with people who nurtured me. And being just half an hour from my parents, I felt settled and secure.”

Which is why it was such a wrench leaving the soap. But Georgia hasn’t looked back and feels she’s grown up more since branching out on her own. “I left because I wanted to be challenged,” she admits. “But also I wanted to live the life of an actress, which I didn’t feel like I’d done.

“It’s been exciting and terrifying at the same time but I’ve loved getting on a train for auditions, working away from home, doing theatre and living out of a suitcase.”

Her down-to-earth attitude has also meant that Georgia hasn’t been fazed by the high-profile actors she’s worked with. However, it might have been a different story if she’d worked closer with David Morrissey in Blackpool.

“What’s not to love about him?” she smiles. “He’s lovely and has great energy. Our characters just never crossed paths, though, so I didn’t get to work with him much. David is a fine specimen of a man, but I didn’t fancy him. He played my dad! He’s quite a presence and was inspiring to work with.”

Georgia could happily stay in Casualty for some time, but she won’t rule out doing some more theatre in the future. And she could also be responsible for inspiring quite a few budding actors herself, as she’s involved with a youth theatre in Manchester.

“I’m patron of a youth theatre my friend set up called JuJu Youth Theatre. I try to help out when I can, which is exciting. If it all goes wrong then I’d be quite happy being a drama teacher – as long as I’m in the acting industry, I don’t care!”

Daily Express Saturday Magazine 8th September 2007

Top^

In her first major television role since Coronation Street, Georgia Taylor takes on the part of one of Casualty's latest student intake.

The 27-year-old actress - who plays the cold-hearted and misunderstood F2 doctor Ruth Winters - has a dark past which viewers will see unfold later in the series.

Digital Spy caught up with Georgia to talk about her character, what it's like filming with the BBC's flagship medical show, the medical jargon and whether she'd ever make a Weatherfield return.

What have you been up to since you left Corrie?

"I've done guest spots on a lot of TV shows; Life on Mars, Lilies, Red Cap, The Royal, Where The Heart Is… I did a series for the BBC called Blackpool with David Morrissey and Sarah Parish… I've done small parts in a couple of films, lots of theatre. I've been really busy but just not doing a lot of high-profile stuff."

The most exciting thing you've done has to be Life on Mars then?

"That was cool to do because I'm a massive fan of the show and I love John Simm – I think he's great. The theatre stuff I've done has just been a real revelation to me. I've absolutely loved it."

What about Ashes To Ashes? Would you want to appear in that?

"I so would. And that's 80s as well. I've done something with a bit of 80s to it recently. I had the biggest hair. I'd love to be in it, yeah. Good cast as well."

What's you Casualty character called?

"Dr Ruth Winters – just a big of a give away that she's a bit cold…"

How does she come to be at the hospital? How does she turn up?

"She's just finished her training. She's what's called an F2 – foundation year two – doctor and she's been assigned to Holby in the Emergency Department - as has Matt Needham's character [Toby de Silva] and they arrive together. They get the tour from Charlie and just start shadowing all the different doctors.

"It's nice because we get to work with a lot of different people because our characters are all over the place."

What's been the best moment for you since if you started filming?

"I'd not watched Casualty for a couple of years [when I landed the role] so there were a lot of people I didn't actually know. And we've got a new set as well, so that's all different."

What does the series hold for your character?

"I don't know how much I can say but she's basically just a cold fish for the first few episodes and people don't know why she's like that. It's safe to say that she doesn't endear herself to the nurses and a lot of other people. And then toward episode seven, a member of her family turns up and you learn a lot more about the way she is and why she's so driven. Hopefully viewers will then understand her more and like her more.

"You can't join Casualty without a dark past! I think most characters have something shady about them."

On your first day filming, was there anyone who showed you the ropes and introduced you to everyone?

"No, not really. They all welcome you. The first scene that I did was with Susan Cookson – who's just fantastic and a good, northern lady – she was funny. They were just all so welcoming. It's really quite a small cast for such a long-running show so you meet everybody really quickly and you get to know them really quickly."

How long are you with the show for?

"I can't say but I'll be here for a while yet…"

Have there been any guest artists filming while you've been there?

"Yeh, there have been quite a few. We had one called Nigel Terry who's a big film star from years ago – he was a fantastic character to have around. Antony Flanagan, Gaynor Faye, Rosemary Leach – there are loads."

What's the turnaround time like on Casualty? How quickly do you turn around episodes from receiving your script?

"It's quite manic actually. There's a lot to do. There'll be two or three crews on at the same time. One lot filming on-location for, say, episode three; one lot in the studio doing episode one; and then you might be doing a bit of episode four somewhere else! It's pretty relentless actually! You need to try and keep your wits about you!"

What about the latin medical terms? How have you fared remembering those?

"The medical gubbins as we call it… The thing is, you have to learn it phonetically. The hilarious thing is when you've spent ages learning it and then when you get in there, you do the run through and whoever the medic is on set says to you 'Oh, no, you don't say it like that' and then you have to retrain yourself! Sometimes you just can't. It's funny and certainly because she feels like she has a lot to prove and is a bit of a show off, she says more than need to be said. She says 100 words when only 10 would do. So I have paragraphs and paragraphs of speech!"

What's been the funniest moment on set since you've been there?

"I laugh every day. I'm hysterical every day. We find humour in the absurdity that we're all dressed up pretending to be doctors with stethoscopes around our necks like some sort of accessory."

Touching back with Coronation Street again - there were reports just before you landed the part in Casualty that Jane Danson wanted you back. What was the situation? Did they ever ask you?

"She's got all the power that girl! No, they haven't ask me back recently. They asked me back years ago for a couple of episodes to be a guest at someone's wedding but I was a filming something else at the time so it wasn't do-able. I haven't heard anything, so no. I think it's whenever there's a story about me doing anything, the newspapers just say 'Oh, she's been asked back by Corrie'. There was certainly no bidding war over me!"

Would you ever rule out a return?

No, I wouldn't rule it out. Not at all. I had a great time there but I'm really not even thinking about that. I'm enjoying it here, enjoying Bristol, having a laugh. They're all great.

Digital Spy Website 07/09/2007

Top^

From the cobbles of Corrie to the cubicles of Casualty, Georgia Taylor takes about fake arms, stitches and whether she'll return to the Street.

After launching her career with an award-winning performance as Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street and staying with the soap for six successful years, Georgia Taylor decided to move on. It was a brave choice - and it has paid off. Georgia's work since has included roles in Blackpool, Life on Mars and New Street Law, plus the 2006 film The History Boys.

Now Georgia, 27, returns to the world of serial drama, playing new doc Ruth in Casualty. The series returns this week with an explosive double bill and this is Casualty as you've never seen it before; more modern but without losing its appeal, promise the producers.

We talk exclusively to Georgia about her new role in the show...

Was it a big decision for you to go back into a continuing drama?

Yes. I've been out of Corrie for over four and a half years and I've done loads of things that I wanted to do, like lots of short jobs in theatre and film, as well as TV. But then I wanted to be somewhere where I could build up relationships and feel like part of a team.

Your character, Ruth Winters, is a new junior doctor. What's her bedside manner like?

It's not great. She's not the kind of doctor who will hold your hand and put you at ease. She's more likely to say, 'This is what's wrong with you, you are going to die so deal with it!' It's not because she's nasty, she just doesn't have very good people skills.

She doesn't sound like much fun!

She's not. She's a perfectionist. She's very self-critical and won't allow herself to make any mistakes. But, for a junior doctor, the whole first year in hospital is about making mistakes and learning from it. Ruth won't accept any help from anyone; she thinks she knows it all.

Have you upped sticks and moved to Bristol, where Casualty is filmed?

Yes, although I still have my base in Manchester. I've not been home for two months, because I've been so busy. But don't feel sorry for me. I've been having a lovely time. 

How do you cope with the gore?

I love it; I'm so macabre. It's great when the directors say, 'Bring in the prosthetics,' and they bring in a chest that is all open and bloody. If there was a real person in front of me that needed heart massage, I would freak out, but as long as it's fake I find it really interesting.

Is Ruth going to soften up at all?

Not much. But around episode seven, you get a glimpse of her past, which explains why she is so driven. She's a troubled soul, but she'll keep that quiet as long as possible.

What about romance?

She doesn't get anything! Well not in the foreseeable future...

Was it daunting to join such an established series?

It was, but it wasn't the same as when I joined Corrie - I was very young then and a lot has happened since. We were really welcomed here with open arms. It was like a big bear hug! On my first day on Casualty, Susan Cookson who plays Maggie, said 'Right, we've got to get you somewhere to live. Everyone here helps each other out.

Did you have any ambitions to be a doctor when you were younger?

No! I couldn't do it. The pressure of having people's lives in your hands is just too much.

Have you ever had any experience of A&E in your own life?

I did go once, but I had amnesia so I can't remember it! When I was about 10 or 11, I had mycoplasma pneumonia [an infection of the lungs] and I also had encephalitis [inflammation of the brain] at the same time. I was a bit off colour for a while, to say the least!

Did you have to research for the role?

We met a lovely doctor (Pete Salt), on whom the character of Charlie [Derek Thompson] is based. He taught me how to take blood and do stitches. I liked that. I could have carried on and knitted a whole arm!

Back to Corrie... Are you still in touch with any of the cast?

Yes, Jane Danson [Leanne Battersby] and Jennie McAlpine [Fiz Brown] are two of my best mates. I'm going home next week, so I'll catch up with them then.

Jane has said she want you back in Corrie. Are you tempted?

She always says that. She thinks if she keeps on saying it, it will happen! I loved my time there and I have nothing but affection for Coronation Street and the people on it, but I am happy doing other things.

TV Times 8-14th September 2007

Top^

Twenty-one years on, the BBC's Casualty is still able to shock, as David Clensy finds out more about the new season

There's an explosive start to the new season of BBC1's Casualty when terrorism arrives in Holby next Saturday. It's a dramatic opening to the Bristol-based programme's 21st season, in which there's a tough few weeks ahead for the good folk of Holby's A&E. 

Charlie's disillusioned after 35 years in nursing, Harry becomes the bad guy behind the budgets, and Nathan's grieving for Selena. And without spoiling the season for regular viewers, the casualty department will have to face another major death as it loses one of its own in the coming weeks. 

"But it's not all depressing," says James Redmond, who plays Abs. "There will be some good times ahead too. You have to have some lighter moments to stop it all becoming too dark."

The hospital corridors will be lit up by three new members of staff. Georgia Taylor, one-time Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street, takes up residency as newly-qualified doctor Ruth. And Georgia's new alter-ego couldn't be further removed from the teenage bane of the Rover's Return. 

The 27-year-old, who has also appeared in Life On Mars, Lilies and the film adaptation of Alan Bennett's play The History Boys, is just one of the new Casualty stars who are liking life in their newly-adopted city. 

"I'm enjoying getting to know Bristol and the South West," Georgia says. "You spend a lot of time filming when you're working on a series like Casualty, so it's been weeks since I've had chance to get home to Manchester. But everyone's been so friendly down here - it's become a home away from home." 

It was a big decision for Georgia to return to another long-running series after saying goodbye to 'The Street' four years ago. "It was a difficult decision," she says. "I left Corrie because I wanted to do some different roles. But I've been lucky enough to do a lot of theatre and some interesting TV and film work in the past four years. So I felt quite happy to get back to a long-term job. 

"After a few years of doing quick jobs, it's nice to have the opportunity to bed-in somewhere again and develop proper relationships with the people you're working with. "It's always nerve-wracking on your first day when you join an established cast. When I joined Coronation Street I was 17, and I was very nervous. But it was much easier on my first day with Casualty. The rest of the cast really put me at ease. 

"And I'm really enjoying getting to grips with the medical side of the show. I spent a whole day learning how to do stitches on a series of prosthetic body parts. I loved it. I could have gone on and knitted a whole arm."

Extract From Western Daily Press Article 02/09/2007

Top^

FORMER Coronation Street star Georgia Taylor who played Toyah Battersby  is joining Casualty. The 27-year-old actress will play a consultant called Ruth and will be on air when the show returns from its two-week break later this year. An insider said: It's a great role for Georgia and she's really looking forward to it. Georgia, who left the Street in 2003 after six years, was last seen on the box in BBC1's hit cop show Life On Mars. She has also been on Soapstar Superstar and Dancing On Ice Defrosted.

The Sun 18/07/2007

Top^