The 5-minute Interview: Emily Symons, Actress

'People in this country don't know how to recycle well'

The Australian actress Emily Symons, 38, made her name playing Marilyn Chambers in 'Home And Away' and now plays Louise Appleton in 'Emmerdale'. She fronts the Recycle Now Christmas campaign

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

At work on Emmerdale.

A phrase I use far too often...

"Fabulous!"

I wish people would take more notice of...

Recycling, because people in Britain don't know how to recycle efficiently. I wish the amount of packaging on food would be reduced, and people recycled clothes and took responsibility for the rubbish they generate. I'm very passionate about it.

The most surprising thing to happen to me was...

Getting to the semi-finals of Dancing On Ice. I was totally surprised. I was struggling and didn't think I'd get past week two.

A common misperception of me is...

That I'm tall. Or they tell me I look fatter on television, which I never like. I'm 5ft 2in and it's a good size.

I am not a politician but...

I would keep politics out of recycling.

I'm good at...

Learning my lines quickly.

I'm very bad at...

Writing letters.

The ideal night out is...

To go to a lovely restaurant and eat delicious food with friends, cast members or family.

In weak moments I...

Could eat a family-sized bar of fruit and nut chocolate in one sitting.

You know me as an actress but in another life I'd have been...

A criminal profiler or a forensic scientist.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this...

Don't worry about the little things in life.

Mark Goode