SUPER TROUPER - 'THE WORLD OF ACTING IS CHANGING FOR WORKING MUMS'

WHEN EX-EASTENDER LOUISA LYTTON BEGINS A 12-WEEK THEATRE TOUR THIS WEEK, HER TWOYEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WON'T BE TOO FAR AWAY

- BETH NEIL

Life for Louisa Lytton feels intense right now. The former EastEnders star is about to embark on a 12-week theatre tour and she is excited about getting back to work after an extended maternity leave.

It will mean spells away from her daughter Aura, who turns two this week, and Louisa is grappling with a conflict of feelings that most working mums will recognise.

“I’m a mixed bag of emotions,” she tells us. “It was quite a big decision to go on tour for a few months and I’m so happy to be working again. But I’m also going to miss Aura and the life I’ve known for the last two years, so I’m totally split.”

Louisa, 34, made a brief return to the stage last November for a five- date run of The Vagina Monologues in Cheltenham – her first time away from Aura. She missed her daughter so much that after the second show, she drove 100 miles through the night back to London to spend a few hours with her before driving back for the next evening’s performance.

“I needed to see her,” she says. “It’s hard to explain how that need feels. It’s a very physical, bodily experience. Aura was absolutely fine, having the time of her life! It was all me. I always wanted to be a mum, but you never know how much you can love another person until you have a baby.”

This time there won’t be much opportunity for a quick dash back home. Louisa is taking on the role of Jenny, following in the footsteps of Lily Allen, Jaime Winstone and Cheryl Tweedy. The touring production of the supernatural thriller 2:22 A Ghost Story opens in Bath this week, before heading around the UK.