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3 January 2006 SHE is attractive, talented and single ... and looking for a special companion to share her new home. But eligible bachelors need not apply. Actress Dawn Steele insists all she needs in her life is a puggle, the handbag-sized designer dog that's all the rage in the States. The former Monarch Of The Glen star has been on her own for over a year, but she insists: "I've been so busy just lately, I'm not bothered about finding a man right now. I'm happy being on my own. "But a puggle, I'd really like one of those. They're so cute and adorable. I've just bought my own flat in London and a puggle would be the perfect addition." And Dawn, 30, who sang her way to the semifinal of last year's Celebrity Fame Academy, says she's not afraid of living alone for the first time either. "I'm much braver than I used to be," she says. "Before, if I heard a noise in the night I'd be terrified, but now I think: 'What's that?' and get up to go and find out." Advertisement Dawn says she owes her new-found fearlessness to Justine McManus, the psychic ghostbuster she plays in supernatural drama Sea Of Souls, which starts a second series on January 7. Dawn, who stars alongside Bill Paterson and Iain Robertson, says: "It's weird because I'm starting to act like Justine, as she constantly puts herself in these situations where you just think, 'No - don't go down that scary corridor on your own!' "But Justine just does it! She's quite brave and I think that has made me a bit braver in my own life. "I've even become addicted to Six Feet Under. The other night I stayed in on my own and watched four episodes back to back - and I'm not ashamed to admit it!" Since starting in the series Scots lass Dawn has also begun to take an avid interest in all things supernatural, and even admits to a few spooky experiences of her own. "The paranormal is so vast. In every episode of Sea Of Souls there's something different, from demon possession to voodoo to haunted houses. I definitely think there's something out there, although I hope I never see it! "While I was filming Sea Of Souls I was staying in a spooky old flat in Glasgow's West End and I'm sure there was something haunting the place. "My light kept flickering one night and then it went off completely and I didn't bother changing it. "Then five days later it just came on again in the middle of the night. OK, it was probably just a faulty bulb, but because I was in Justine mode I started convincing myself there must be an otherworldly presence there. Talk about taking your work home with you!" In the new series, Justine is forced to confront her own psychic abilities and comes to realise they are much more powerful than she ever imagined. Dawn explains: "Justine's psychic powers start to frighten her, because she can foresee some horrific things and it's down to her to make sure they don't become a reality. "At the same time she's determined to use her abilities for good. However, her powers aren't there all the time, they come and go at the strangest of times." With Justine experiencing more other-worldly experiences, Dawn admits the series has stretched her acting abilities. She says: "The special effects are added in later, so you're acting to nothing or just a prop. It's all quite bizarre. The other week I had to be terrified of a bin, which was my eyeline for wee boy who wasn't there. "I just thought, 'Blimey, I don't know how they cope with this on Star Wars.' Luckily, I'm quite good at acting scared and crying a lot." Acting her scary scenes In the last series of Sea Of Souls must have done the trick -most of her family were spooked out and could hardly bear to watch. She laughs: "Some of them found the show a bit too scary, especially my mum who was very scared - although she's still getting her head around the fact it's not Monarch Of The Glen. "My brothers loved It and they are really Into Buffy and all those big American paranormal dramas, so I'm really chuffed they think it's as good as big shows like that." After graduating from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow-born Dawn shot to fame as feisty housekeeper Lexie In Monarch of the Glen, who she played for four years. She made her first foray into acting in 1999 with a role In Gregory's Two Girls. Other TV roles have Included Split Second, starring Cllve Owen, ^ and 2003's The Key, co-starring Ken Stott. Last year she was the eighth student to be voted out of Celebrity Fame Academy In aid of Comic Relief. SHE says: "It was an amazing experience, but also one of the most terrifying things I have ever done. "When I agreed to do It I thought it was definitely going to be good fun, a bit like being back at drama school. But oddly enough It wasn't, because it was so utterly terrifying. It was worth it at the end when the producer came over at the end of the night and said we'd had millions of calls and raised so much money. You didn't know how big it was while you were inside. Everyone got on really well and we've all kept in touch. I'm still really good friends with Kim Medcalf." Despite receiving plaudits from the judges and viewers alike, Dawn reveals she has only recently plucked up the courage to watch her Fame Academy performances. "I saw it for the first time on video last week as I'd been too embarrassed to watch myself singing until now." Singing her heart out every ft night to an audience of 1 millions also won her more male admirers -but Dawn remains resolutely single. "There's a paper that each year publishes a list of Scot-I land's most eligible 'women," she smiles. "A few years ago I was number one, then number two the year after. Last year I was down to number 30-some-thing!" She is understandably cagey about her previous relationships - last year her former fiance, footballer Paddy Flannery, sold his story of their year-long relationship to a newspaper. Still, being on her own doesn't bother the bubbly actress, and neither does the fact she is now unemployed for the first time in her seven-year career. She says: "I've been very lucky because I came straight out of drama school and started working and I haven't had any periods without work. After I left Monarch of the Glen I went straight into a theatre play then got the part in Sea Of Souls. "Now I've got to start auditioning again and hopefully something will come along. In the meantime I've saved up enough money to get by. "It's a welcome break because for months I've been living out of suitcases while filming, and now I'm living out of binbags because I haven't even had time to unpack or organise my new flat. Oh, and I have to find my puggle." It's weird! Playing Justice has made me a lot more courage
Taken from: Mirror.co.uk |