Interrogation: Goose is grilled ... Claire Goose

Which bit of you do you like best? Claire Goose: My smile. That's what I like best in other people, too. I always respond to a smiling face.

And the least?

CG: My legs. I wish they were longer, although I suppose that would mean it'd take more time to shave them.

Ever consider plastic surgery?

CG: It's all to do with confidence. How you look is more important in my profession than in most. If the work started drying up, I might feel pressured into doing it. But I can't imagine ever really wanting to. The actress I most admire is Helen Mirren who gets sexier as she gets older and, as far as I know, has never been under the surgeon's knife.

Did you ever have a nickname?

CG: As a child, it was always Goosey or Gander. At grammar school, everyone called me Claire. Then when I started on Casualty, I was suddenly Goosey again. My dad's a GP so he's Dr Goose which sounds nice. And Mum inevitably gets called Mother Goose.

What's the worst thing you've ever done while you were drunk?

CG: I was at a millennium New Year's Eve party in a pub in Bristol. It's not that I stripped completely, but the landlord put on the music from The Full Monty and a mate and I got a bit carried away, discarding most of our clothing along the way. We got down to bra and pants. I couldn't drink there for months afterwards for fear that the regulars would recognise me.

You reverse your car into a stationary vehicle, smashing its headlights. What do you do?

CG: I hate to admit it but, as long as I was sure that no one had seen me, I'd probably drive off.

You discover that your bank has mistakenly credited your account with pounds 1,000...

CG: Tricky. What happens if they realise their mistake in a month's time and I've already spent it? Still, if the error was theirs in the first place... But I'd treat someone with the money to help ease any guilt.

What would you do if you discovered your best mate's partner was cheating on her?

CG: When I split up with my first serious boyfriend five years ago, my best friend told me he'd been cheating on me. I've always been glad she did. So I hope I'd refuse to feel emotionally blackmailed into not telling if the same thing was happening to her - she'd be the one I cared about, not him.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

CG: I didn't, until it happened to me. It was the most extraordinary thing. I met someone and, within 30 seconds, it felt as though I'd been punched in the stomach. I couldn't breathe. He felt it, too. We saw each other for a while and had a great, great time. It was very intense. I still have a soft spot for him and I think I probably always will.

If you were in a relationship but you could get away with a one- night stand, would you?

CG: Sorry to disappoint but no. I never have and I never would.

What's the worst way you've ever dumped someone?

CG: I don't think I've dumped anyone.

All right, what's the worst way you've ever been dumped?

CG: I was 21. I lived next door to a pub. My boyfriend rang up and said we should meet there which I thought was odd. Why not come to my house first? We'd only been seeing each other for six months and I thought we were getting on well. But he sat down and said it wasn't working for him anymore. I felt like I'd been slapped. I just didn't see it coming.

Who would you most like to be stuck in a lift with?

CG: John Cusack. I've got a bit of a thing for him at the moment. I met him two years ago, briefly, in Edinburgh. I'd had a couple of drinks which gave me the Dutch courage to waltz on over to him. He was lovely, such a sweet man.

Which celebrity would you most like to swap lives with?

CG: I don't want to be her but I must say Victoria Beckham strikes me as being sorted. She and David seem very together. People criticise them but I think they project a positive role model. They obviously love each other and I like the fact they've got a family.

What's the first record you bought?

CG: I can't remember but I do know the first record my brother ever bought me. I was five or six and it was by Keith Harris and Orville. I was thrilled.

Were you ever in the Brownies?

CG: Yes, and I was a Girl Guide. I was Patrol Leader of Swallow Patrol.

If you could be invisible for a day, where would you go?

CG: Buckingham Palace. I'd love to know what the Queen does when she's chilling out. Does she sit in front of the telly in her slippers with a nice gin and tonic as she surfs the channels?

Claire can be seen in the second series of Waking The Dead on BBC1 at the beginning of September

CLAIRE'S REALITY CHECK

She can act cool in a crisis (on TV) but how does Ms Goose cope in the real world?

How much is the annual TV licence?

I've just bought one for the telly in my new flat. It's pounds 109.

How long does a guinea pig live?

About three or four years. (No, it's two.)

How many numbers can you choose from in the National Lottery?

Forty nine but I never do it. The odds of winning are said to be 14 million to one. I was taught to play poker, though, when I was on Casualty and I turned out to be very good at it. No one can 'read' my face, apparently.

On a standard three-pin plug, is the brown wire live, neutral or earth?

Earth. (No, it's Live.)

How long does a standard adult passport run?

45 years? (It's 10.)

How much is a pint of milk?

This is difficult because I only drink soya milk. But around 40p.

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