Waterloo Road
Camilla Power plays Lorna Dickey
What happened to Lorna at the end of last series?
"She was deeply disturbed and attempted suicide by trying to drown herself. She had found out that Tom and Izzie had got together and, even though she tried to keep herself cheerful around them both, she found it all too much to bear."
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Lorna makes a surprise return to Waterloo Road for the second series – do you think she has changed?
"Everyone thought she had left as, at the end of last series, she wrote to Tom and Izzie and said that she was leaving and going to make a new life for herself in Australia. But that was a lie and, in reality, she tried to kill herself.
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"She had reached the end of her tether when her marriage broke down and Tom started dating her friend, Izzie. She tried to act like it was all ok but she just couldn't cope. So on the first day of term, Tom and Izzie head back to work as normal and Lorna's appearance certainly gives them both a massive shock. But Lorna is only putting a brave face on it. She appears to have regained control of her life but this turns out to be quite misleading."
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What are her true feelings?
"Lorna is very hurt and still has mixed emotions towards Izzie and Tom, which are exacerbated by suffering deep depression."
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Do you feel sympathy for Lorna?
"I do, although you can't help but feel that she is behind her own destruction. She really should have left Waterloo Road and never have put herself in such painful and vulnerable situation. But she's a bit like a moth to a flame."
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What is Lorna's relationship with Tom and Izzie like now?
"With Izzie, it's love and hate again. They have a deep bond with undercurrents of resentment: you can forgive but not forget. Lorna still has feelings for Tom on many levels."
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Lorna sets her sights on Andrew quite quickly. Why do you think she does this?
"Lorna is vulnerable and Andrew is kind to her, which makes him attractive to her and also gives her fragile ego a boost. She likes him as a person and they have certain things in common. But I think she tries to throw herself into another relationship so soon after Tom to feel loved and protected and to forget about Izzie and Tom – it's a distraction."
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Does Andrew return her attentions?
"Andrew's not looking for a relationship with Lorna. I think he sees her as a friend who he can have a bit more with, so it's very casual for him, though he's too ‘nice' to let her down."
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What are Lorna's relationships like with the rest of the staff?
"She has a good relationship with the other teachers and they do sympathise with her. But they think she is very strong and together – they don't see the other side to her."
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What goes through your mind when you think of your own school days?
"I couldn't wait to start the adventure of becoming an adult and hated being told what to do. I was very single-minded, so I found school and all its restrictions sometimes frustrating."
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Do you think you would make a good teacher?
"I think I would be rubbish! I can tell my family off but I think I would definitely find 15-year-old girls really intimidating – especially if they had bigger boobs than me…"
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Did you have any inspirational teachers?
"I went to the Sylvia Young Theatre School and Sylvia was really inspirational – she was so supportive of all the kids and gave everyone the confidence to achieve their best."
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Were you good at sport at school?
"I didn't really do much sport at school but I did do dancing. I was always the lanky one at the back in the all-in-one black lycra outfit – gangly and looking out of place."
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