“People recognised me by my smile when the series first came out, because in between filming I had dyed my hair back to its natural colour.” Lindsey has now had her hair re-bleached white-blonde for her character Shaz, and is once again the spikey-haired little elfin character. “I think it was the smile they recognised because Shaz is eternally happy!
“This series she doesn’t smile quite so much and we see a more aggressive side to her nature. I think it’s hard for her inside as she is essentially a child in an adult environment and in that sense she is still finding her feet. There’s also her relationship with Denny which is put to the test this series.
“There are definitely elements of me in Shaz but I certainly couldn’t stand to be around her. I wouldn’t be friends with her, she is too hyperactive. She would do my head in! I guess I’m much more chilled and laid-back than Shaz but I do have moments of hyperactivity - especially when I’m really tired. I get hysterical! Shaz is a livewire but it’s not drugs, it’s all natural energy.”
The week before the new series started filming Lindsey finished a season at the prestigious Chichester Festival playing Nigel Planer’s daughter in A Small Family Business.
In real life her little sister plays the youngest daughter in the series At Home With The Braithwaites. “She keeps saying to me “can’t they write a part for your character’s little sister to come and visit you at HMP Larkhall? – she says if I manage to do that she will get the Braithwaites to do the same for me!”