Mandana feels that in this series we will be seeing a side to Nikki that has not been seen before. "In the first series Nikki had got used to being self reliant and a survivor. She was distrustful of authority and the system".

"With Helen coming into her life, and after a lot of persuasion, she agrees to go for the appeal. It gives her a focus and a goal where as before Nikki would just get through the day - living was a life sentence. It takes a while for Nikki to see that Helen is for real. We see her dropping her guard and becoming more of an idealist and alive again".

Mandana likes Nikki "because she's truthful and has a lot of integrity, which is great to play. This series she becomes softer which is borne out of having her trust in life renewed, and allows her to be more expansive".

"She's still a loner but she certainly knows who she likes, like the two Julies, who are sweethearts. Nikki has no family on the outside so the other girls have become her family. She has nurtured some friendships but if she doesn't like them she won't give them the time of day".

Like Mandana, Nikki is a book lover, "Books are her main-stay and an escape from prison life. She takes comfort from reading and it gives her a feeling of existence".

The series has obviously had a profound effect on Mandana "Playing Nikki has certainly changed me and the way that I am with women in real life. If you play a story-line where you fall in love with a woman, not just because they're fanciable but because they are top people, you're exploring an area that you don't normally delve into. I have really loved the environment of working with all these women - I've ended up thinking women are bloody great!"

Mandana admits to having been a bit of a wild teenager, "To this day I don't know why I did it but I had a shoplifting stint when I was fifteen. Of course, I got caught and was given a formal caution by the police. I was taken to the cells and it was terrifying. I'd nicked a cheekbone highlighter from Boots. I believe my record was cleared when I was sixteen - I hope!"