Laila Rouass (49) is best known for her roles in Footballers' Wives, Primeval and Spooks. Now she's returning as Holby City’s Dr Shah, who she last played in 2012.
"Being back in Holby City feels like being reunited with family," says Laila. "Although only two of the actors – Bob Barrett who plays Sacha Levy and Guy Henry who plays Henrik Hanssen – are still in the show from when I was here from 2011 to 2012, many of the crew are still the same.
"It’s a lovely place to work, even at the moment, when we’re having to be socially distanced.
"I left last time because my daughter Inez was very young, just starting primary school, and I needed to be there for her. She’s 13 now, though, and far more self-sufficient."
Laila was also a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, in which she finished fourth.
"One of my scariest challenges has to be doing Strictly Come Dancing," reveals Laila. "I was partnered with Anton du Beke and while I had a great time, it was certainly very challenging.
"The Saturday evening live shows were so nerve-wracking and exhausting. We’d be there from 8am on Saturday mornings – camera rehearsal, lighting rehearsal, dress rehearsal… By the time we got to do it for real, we were worn out. It felt like sleep-dancing!
"For the professional dancers it’s a bit like teaching a child how to do their ABCs over and over again. Anton and the other pros have the patience of saints, bless ‘em."
Laila's lockdown philosophy
"I’ve been studying the life and beliefs of the Stoic philosopher, Epictetus, who lived in the first century AD. His philosophy is all about dealing with setbacks – such as we are all having to do at the moment," explains Laila.
"As far as Epictetus is concerned, all external events are beyond our control and we should accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. However, individuals are responsible for their own actions, which they can examine and control through self-discipline. It’s been a life-saver for me.
"I've also rediscovered the importance in having compassion for yourself. I’ve always been quite tough and unkind to myself and tend to talk to myself really badly – with no compassion. We wouldn’t talk to our friends the way we sometimes talk to ourselves. I want to make negative thoughts about myself a thing of the past."
Holby City is on BBC1, Tuesdays at 8pm.
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