Katherine Kelly says her new role in drama 'The Guilty' is her "grittiest" on-screen part yet.
The former 'Coronation Street' actress stars as a mother whose son has gone missing in the new ITV show, and she admits the programme was "physically" tough to film because her character was so emotional all the time.
She said: "Playing this role does physically take a toll. You sob for 12 hours a day for weeks, so by week three you are waking up and you think, 'My face is still swollen, my eyes are still red'.
"Your body doesn't know, it thinks it is grief. Even though your mind is fine and you have been watching 'The Voice' the night before, your body is ropey.
"It is definitely my grittiest role on-screen."
While the 33-year-old actress is glad she was able to leave her character's mindset behind when she had finished filming for the day, she insists the role was one of the "best" parts she has ever played.
She added to The Sun newspaper: "I didn't have any sleepless nights or nightmares, as mentally I can always switch off.
"As soon as a director shouts, 'Cut,' I'm out of it. You just have to count your blessings that you aren't going through it and do it justice for those that have.
"I did once play a junkie on film -- and for 18 months I was raped on stage every night in a play. That was quite full-on, but telly-wise, this is up there. Despite being bleak, it is one of the best roles I have ever done."
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