I'd love a clan of my own!

Saturday (Daily Express) Magazine


18-24 September 2004

She may be looking for a fling in Monarch Of The Glen, but off screen former Bad Girl Simone Lahbib can't wait to start a family

INTERVIEW

Simone Lahbib sits in a draughty Portakabin preparing to film her first scenes as Isobel Anderson, the latest character to join the hugely popular BBC1 drama Monarch Of The Glen, set in the Scottish Highlands While the set outside resembles a mudbath and the howling winds threaten to ruin her immaculate hair, Simone, who previously starred in ITV's hit series Bad Girls, is not about to let the weather get her down.

On the contrary - she's got 1 plenty to smile about. Her profile is about to be boosted when she makes her  debut appearance in the hit - BBC1 series tomorrow night, and she's just celebrated her first wedding anniversary to Saving Private Ryan actor Raffaello Degruttola. But is there something missing?.

"The idea of starting a family is really starting to appeal," confides Simone, her green eyes sparkling at the thought.

"Raffaello and I both want to have children and, hopefully, we can get on with it soon. But it's one of those timing things. If you're working all the time then how do you disguise a big fat bump?

"I suppose when it happens you go with the flow," she adds. "Actually, I've been told Monarch is a job that many women have become pregnant on. Maybe it's all the Highland air... So watch this space!"
Simone, 39, and Raffaello met on the set of ITV cop series Thief Takers eight years ago and have been practically inseparable ever since.

"Actually, do you know what the weirdest thing was? About three weeks after meeting him and us courting, he said to me, 'I know you are the woman I am going to marry'

"I was like 'Whoooah! Steady on, simmer down there. Let's not get too carried away' But at the same time I thought, 'Wow!'" Raffaello was right, though, and they finally tied the knot on last year near Stirling Castle, in her home town.

Simone is the eldest of five children. Her mother is Scottish and Simone's unusual name comes from her French-Algerian father, who was head chef at Scotland's Gleneagles Hotel. "My Scottish grandmother had eight children," she says. "How about that? I don't think I'll be following in her footsteps - not at this stage in my life. I'll be lucky if I manage to fit two in.

"But then the joy of a large family is that you have lots of children and grandchildren to go and visit. I enjoy coming from such a large gang because we are very close."

Recently, the couple have been forced to spend time apart due to work commitments. While Simone's been filming in the Highlands, Raffaello has been working in Los Angeles on movies including Citizen Verdict with Jerry Springer and psychological thriller Dot.Kill.

"Raffaello has been here a few times, so we have been seeing a bit of each other," says Simone. "He complains about the Scottish food a little bit - but he's Italian, so what do you expect?"

Joining the cast for the sixth series, Simone plays successful career woman Isobel Anderson who returns to Glenbogle to sort out the lease on her late grandmother's farm. But the magical place soon has a hold over her, and it looks like she'll be there to stay. There's an instant love-hate relationship between Isobel and new laird Paul (Lloyd Owen) - which can only mean one thing... They fancy each other something rotten!

"Isobel's certainly no shrinking violet, so she's great fun to play," explains Simone, who spent three years at ballet school before training to become an actress at Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh.

Her big break came in The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star. It led to TV roles in Judge John Deed and Fallen with Jonathan Cake. But it's probably the character of bisexual prison governor Helen Stewart in ITVl's Bad Girls that made her name, and the future holds even more varied roles, with a Scottish film in the pipeline and another potential TV series later this year. But with Raffaello working his way up the movie star ladder, would Simone ever consider a Hollywood role? "Of course I'd go for it! I'm not exactly going to say: 'No, sorry, hen. I only do Scottish roles...'"

The new series of Monarch Of The Glen begins tomorrow night on BBC1 at 8pm.
 

 

 

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