Lucy Speed, 35, is an actress best known for playing Natalie Evans, best friend of Patsy Palmer’s Bianca, in EastEnders, as well as DS Stevie Moss in The Bill. She began performing aged seven when a ballet teacher urged her parents to get her an agent. Aged eight, she was acting at the National Theatre in the controversial Neap Tide. She later attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, before getting her TV break aged 17, when she joined the cast of EastEnders.

Speed stars in Twelfth Night at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, from November 1-5. For tickets, call 01323 412000. She also appears in Philip King’s 1945 farce See How They Run, which is at the Connaught Theatre, Worthing, from November 17-19. For tickets, call 01903 206206.

Which musician/artist/writer/other figure do you admire?

I admire Dame Judi Dench and have done for a long time. Her stage career was long and varied way before her film career kicked off. She always attacks her roles with such honestly and subtlety

Which TV programme couldn’t you live without?

I am currently highly addicted to Downton Abbey like everyone else. But I always support drama on our televisions and am against this onslaught of reality telly.

Do you remember the first record you bought – what was it, and where did you buy it?

The first record I bought was Madonna’s True Blue. I was a big fan as a child.

I think it was in HMV in Purley, Surrey!

Tell us about any guilty pleasures lurking in your CD or film collections…

I don’t consider any of my films or CDs guilty pleasures – they are all valid. Although I do have an unexplained penchant for Vivaldi’s Four Seasons!

Do you have a favourite film?

It changes; an all-time favourite is The King And I because as a child I was fascinated by Debra Kerr, but at present I am rather obsessed with Downfall, a superbly directed and acted piece based on the evidence of Hitler’s secretary, of his last days in the bunker.

What about a favourite book?

1984 by George Orwell closely followed by Saturday by Ian McEwan. Both are fascinatingly written, character-led, gripping stories. I normally hate it when films are made of my favourite books although I can’t complain about John Hurt in 1984!

Is there a song or individual piece of music you always come back to?

I always come back to Allelujah by Fairground Attraction. I played it as I walked down the aisle on our wedding day and I think it is hauntingly beautiful and now forever synonymous with the best day of my life so far!

What are you reading at the moment?

The Good Earth by Pearl Buck – I mostly read about China or the First or Second World War weirdly!

Tell us about a live music/theatre/cinema experience that sticks in your memory...

I remember being at the National Theatre aged eight, in a play that was receiving great notices all round and going to see my friend in panto and being insanely jealous of her costumes!

How things change!

Is there a book/record /film/play/person that made you want to do what you do now?

I think that as I child I really fell into this but I have to say Monica Wild, my wonderful ballet teacher, was the most inspirational and “showbiz”

person I have ever met – even now!

If you get a spare 30 minutes, how are you most likely to spend it?

I am most likely to spend my spare time reading about or watching a war documentary. I am truly obsessed.

The First and Second World Wars were fascinating times, full of incredible bravery and sacrifice.

I don’t know how people got through it but they did. I think about this every time I look into the face of someone old.

We could learn a lot by looking back at history and realising that someone, somewhere in the world is still suffering similarly.