It's FLOWN by!

EastEnders' LAURA DODDINGTON on her incredible year as ruthless Nicola Mitchell

- ALISON SLADE PHOTOS: BBC

EASTENDERS MONDAY-THURSDAY, 7.30PM (REGIONS VARY), BBC1 SOAP

Few soap characters have made such a huge impact in such a short space of time as EastEnders' Nicola Mitchell.

So as actor Laura Doddington prepares to mark her first anniversary on the BBC1 soap this Tuesday, TV Times decided it was the perfect opportunity to catch up with the fan favourite. Here, in her own words, Laura, 44, tells us about landing her dream role, her colourful Walford journey so far, and what's on her wish list for Nicola for the future...

Nicola is the most exciting character I think I've ever auditioned for. When I read the breakdown for her, she was already incredibly formed and very complex. I found a video message on my phone over the summer that I'd sent to my mate as I came out of the audition. I'm going, "I don't think I got it, but it was fun."

The day I found out I'd got the part, I was in a basement studio in Soho, London. I looked at my phone and I had 12 missed calls from my agent. I will never forget walking up the steps to the outside and thinking, "Oh my God, is this it?" I called my agent and he went, "Can you drive a car?" I was like, "Er, yeah..." He said, "Great. On your first day on EastEnders, you're going to be driving." I literally screamed in the street!

I felt I already knew Nicola, but I needed to flesh her out. Working with the wardrobe and makeup departments really helped. Clothes-wise, she is so not like me - I wear hoodies and flats, whereas she is always perfectly turned out. As soon as I put on her heels and tailored outfits, I hold myself differently.