An actress who has played medics on more than one occasion on TV has become a nurse in real life.
Vicky Hall played Hazel Leyton in Casualty for a couple of years from 2015, has also appeared in Holly City – and played a nurse in Weatherfield in 2006.
But now the Newcastle-born performer – also recognisable to viewers from roles in Teachers, Derek, and Line of Duty – has exchanged treading the boards to working on wards.
The mum-of-two told the Mirror she was inspired to make the career change after searching for a new challenge after having her kids.
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“I frequently played nurses, perhaps the universe was trying to tell me something,” she said.
Vicky continued: “After my children were born I thought about what I would do next.
“I decided it had to have all the excitement of acting, the need to really use my brain, and that I would be in demand. Emergency nursing just fit the bill.”
Having retaken her GCSE science qualification, Vicky went all in on a degree once her children began their schooling.
She now has a part-time role in the accident and emergency department at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, Worcestershire and clearly loves her new job.
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She said: “I would recommend working in an emergency department to anyone. You gain so much knowledge and confidence if you take the plunge and throw yourself in the deep end.”
Vicky, who has also starred in Doctors, Bodies and Byker Grove, has not given up acting entirely, however.
She appeared in Ken Loach’s latest film Sorry We Missed You where she played a nurse yet again – and also assisted with the design of the set depicting an A&E department.
Calling it her “proudest role yet”, Vicky also gave fellow actors in the films medical tips on why their characters might be attending hospital.
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