[Zoe Ball gives introduction as Anna walks in through entrance shown as a surveillance camera shot in black and white. Anna comes into studio and hugs Jamie Theakston]

Anna: I felt that sweat - I felt my legs too…

JT: I'm dripping. Anna and Michael - have you 2 met ? [meaning Anna and another guest]

AF: We have !

Michael: We have !

JT: Is that it ? Is there more to it ? are you gonna tell us more ?

AF: In the dressing room !!

JT: Ah, alright, OK. Now listen Anna, we haven't seen much of you recently. Have you been away ? Have you been busy ?

AF: I've been in America for about a year and half.

JT: Right…

AF: And just got back from Canada on Friday - which I was glad about !

JT: OK. And I'm guessing you're working ? These aren't holidays ?

AF: No. Filming !!

JT: What have you been up to ?

AF: Hmmm, it depends on the last time you saw me. To catch up on it…

JT: Well take us from Brookside !

AF: Oh !. Well I've done 10 movies since then…

JT: 10 movies !!

AF:…. 6 months on Broadway and I got back about…., got back on Friday.

JT: Right 'cos I know you did "Work Girls"…

[Anna laughs out loud causing audience to laugh]

JT: No… not "Work Girls"….

AF: Do your research Jamie !!!

JT: "Rogue Trader"… that was the one !!

AF: "Land Girls" !!

JT: And "Rogue Trader" which you did with Ewan McGregor. What was that like ? Was that any good that film ?

AF: Yeah it was fun to do.

JT: Was it ?

AF: Yeah !

JT: And what was Ewan like ?

AF: Yeah, he was good.

JT: And you've just been doing a film in, in Canada. Is that right ?

AF: Yeah called "War Bride". And I've just done one with a director called Barry Levinson who, erm, did like "Rainman", "Good Morning Vietnam" and all that stuff. [goes into Belfast accent] , and in that I play a wee Belfast girl, so I talk like that for about 3 month. [back into normal accent] She's a wee girl who works in a mental hospital. She's a nurse.

JT: But you've got all your plaudits that….

AF: Look at you sweating [Anna wipes Jamie's brow of sweat - urgh !!]

JT: I know, I can't breathe. I'm embarrassed by it, I know, it's 'cos of you…. But you did a lot of work in the theatre because you won numerous awards and you….. - plaudits over in the states where you're looked upon as like the biggest, sort of, fe-m…, UK actress. Er, would that be fair to say ?

AF: You know it was my first time onstage and they offered, asked me to do it and I was petrified. We did 6 months and 2 awards later and got loads of good reviews and then came back to England.

JT: Was it true that all these big stars keep coming backstage and asking after you ?

AF: Aha...

JT: We want names on the show, that's what we like !!

AF: You sound naff when you do that !!

JT: No, go !

AF: Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, Al Pacino, Madonna, Robert Newman, er, I don't know, lots…

JT: And I also read that Jack Nicholson also said "Until I spend the night with Anna Friel I won’t be able to concentrate". Er, what is that ?

AF: Maybe that was, I told him, I was talking to him and said "Come on, you're old enough to be my granddad !!"

JT: Did he try and chat you up ?

AF: He said "Well I kept you talking for 10 minutes huh !!"

JT: Really ?

AF: I was like… he was cool !

JT: 'Cos I also heard that you went on a few dates with Al Pacino ? Is that fair to say ?

AF: No. We worked together. We were doing like work on some scripts that we're going on later on.

JT: Right, OK. But now your big… it's funny 'cos you shot to fame on the back of this , of this lesbian kiss in Brookside.

AF: Well I hope not just that. I hope something to do with me.

JT: No , but obviously….

AF: Yeah.

JT: …. That was the, that was such a huge thing and I was looking the , I think I've got the paper yesterday and they're doing it again. This is in yesterday's paper.

AF: No ! Are they ?

JT: They're doing another lesbian kiss which I think is going to be broadcast on Friday !

AF: Is it as good as ours ?

JT: Well I'll tell you what - you can judge for yourself 'cos I think we've got a clip of it. Take a look at this….

[Clip from Brookside is shown]

JT: On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate that ?

AF: Ah, well it's more passionate than ours !!

JT: Really ?

AF: Yeah !!

JT: Anna sadly we're running out of time but has anyone got a question, anyone in the audience got a question that they'd like to put to Anna ? Anyone at all… er… [someone shouts from audience] Not you sir !! We'll have you out !! Megan and Rosie, what's your question ?

Megan & Rosie: You went out with Darren Day. Urrrrgghhh - why ?

AF [grins slightly but looks shocked]: Ah !! Why would I go out with someone who wasn't nice for 2 and a half years ?

JT: Exactly !

AF: I've got good taste in men !!

JT: You have !!

AF: A list that you don't know about… but I er….

JT: A list that we don't know about ?

AF: Absolutely !!

JT: You want to share…..

AF: Absolutely not !! [audience laughs]

JT: A round of applause for Anna Friel

[Audience applauds and a pregnant Zoe Ball sits on sofa. Anna and Zoe embrace and Anna rubs Zoe's bump]

AF: I'm getting all "clucky" !!

JT: You want one of these ? [pointing at Zoe's bump]

AF: I so do !!

Zoe: Do U ?

AF: Yeah !!

JT: Really !!

Zoe: Wait you're young !!

AF: If I found the right man, I'd be there in a second !!