Articles
Change of heart.
Simone
Lahbib falls for mystery transplant patient Angus Deayton.
The last time we saw Simone Lahbib she was playing hard nosed city
girl Isobel Anderson, who flipped between flirting and fighting with
Paul Bowman, the Laird in the last series of Monarch of the Glen.
This week she returns to our screens, co-starring opposite Angus Deayton
in ITV's one off romatic drama, Heartless.
"I play grieving Mum Amanda MacNaughton, who's left to care for
her two young sons after her husband dies." Explains Simone,
40.
"A lawyer called Harry Holland - played by Angus Deayton- arrives
at the B&B she runs. He's just had a heart transplant and has
come to Scotland to find out more about the donar as he's changed
so much since the operation.
'He used to be ruthless, but after the operation he has a heart, which
is useless in his profession! It turns out the donar was Amanda's
late husband, but he doesn't tell her that. She just thinks theres
something very familiar about him and eventually she falls for him.
When she learn's the truth, it really throws her....."
It's turning out to be a special year for the glamorous Scottish actress.
Not only is her role in Heartless one of her biggest to date, she's
also expecting a baby in Spetember.
"I'm so excited." smiles the former Bad Girls Star, who's
been married to actor Raffaello Degruttola for two years. "I've
been wanting to start a family since we married, but we've spent lots
of time apart, because he's often filming in LA.
'I hadn't given up hope, but I was worried about my age. When Monarch
finished in September, I went straight on to Heartless.
Since then, Raff and I have had a lot of time together and it just
happened!'
The only downside to being pregnant is that Simone won't be appearing
in the final series of Monarch of the Glen later this year. She and
the show's bosses agreed filming would be exhausting for her while
pregnant.
So, Simone, who's also been working on the film Red Mercury Rising
alongside former West Wing star Stockard Channing, has been getting
the nursery ready at home.
"It's nice being at home." She says. "And my hubby
is being very protective - I love it!"
Words: Donna Findlay.