This week Natalie is joined by actress and soap veteran Alex Fletcher to talk all about her journey from 90’s child star to soap icon, the importance of sharing stories and the many phases of motherhood.

During the chat Alex discusses her route to becoming a professional actor and cites acclaimed writer Russell T Davies as the man who gave her her first job on the hit children’s BBC show Why Don’t You! She notes how that experience lead her to Brookside Close and working with the likes of Sue Johnston & Ricky Tomlinson and how soaps have cemented themselves as part of the heart of British Television due to their familiarity and ability to tackle hard hitting issues affecting the every day person with warmth and sensitivity. As part of this topic Alex reflects on her favourite storylines over the years which includes Hollyoaks hugely evocative Long Walk Home campaign, centred on women’s safety.

Later on in the chat Alex reflects on her experience with perimenopause and reveals that it was Davina McCall’s powerful documentary Sex, Myths & The Menopause that encouraged her to speak to a doctor about her own symptoms before starting on treatment which she now feels has helped her navigate this new phase. She talks at length about parenting children of different ages and the challenges that brings and how as her daughter takes her A-Levels she’s preparing herself for a quieter nest. Alex remarks how it’s important for women to share stories through the generations to allow us to feel more prepared for life’s changes and how we can pass the knowledge on to our own children.

Listen in for an honest, relatable and warm conversation with one of our favourite tv stars.

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