Life has treated Huddersfield actress Jodie Whittaker rather well over the last three years. ANDY WELCH interviewed her on the eve of her latest TV venture

JODIE Whittaker is running late.

It’s not too bad, only quarter of an hour. Compared with the slack time-keeping of some actresses, she’s almost early.

As Jodie arrives in the restaurant for our meeting, it becomes clear her tardiness is for the most noble of reasons.

“I’ve been to an audition,” she states, a little out of breath, before explaining how she thinks it went well.

“As you can tell, I’m really shy and don’t like talking,” she says, laughing.

For the next 45 minutes or so, the Huddersfield-born 26-year-old barely pauses for breath as she talks excitedly about her work, whether it be on the stage, TV or big screen.

Anyone who’s been watching the recent BBC adaptation of Tess Of The D’Urbervilles will recognise Jodie. She played milkmaid Izzy Huett in the third episode of the four-part drama, while cinema fans will know Jodie from Venus, in which she starred opposite veteran actor Peter O’Toole.

Though Jodie is now London-based, her family home is in Huddersfield with dad Adrian, mum Yvonne and older brother Kris. She went to school at Shelley where she was taught drama by Steven Downs before heading for London’s Guildhall.

“Before I was cast in Venus, I’d worked at The Globe in London, done an episode of Doctors for the BBC and an afternoon radio play – a total of eight days’ filming,” she explains in her strong Yorkshire accent.

“Then I went and sat opposite Peter O’Toole and made Venus. I think if I hadn’t got that part, none of the subsequent jobs would have happened.”

Since then, Jodie’s barely had time to stand still. She’s scored roles in This Life +10 and Brit flick St Trinian’s to her credit, and recently finished working alongside Lord Of The Rings star Viggo Mortensen in Good.

The next time Jodie will be on our screens will be in Wired, a three-part drama exploring the murky world of bank fraud, which starts on Monday.

Whittaker plays Louise Evans, a single mother and bank worker struggling to get by with crippling debts.

When her best mate’s new boyfriend offers her a way out – set up a false bank account and receive £10,000 in return – she eventually gives in and enters an increasingly dangerous criminal world.

“It’s part of the world I know nothing about,” Jodie says.

“I avoid banks and I’ve never been in any sort of corporate environment at all.

“My character Louise is really interesting too. She’s incredibly fiery, a really strong woman. You don’t read many scripts, especially for crime dramas, that feature a strong woman as the central character.”

Like most actors, she talks positively about her co-stars: ex-EastEnder Charlie Brooks, Bond villain Toby Stephens, Laurence Fox of Lewis and relative newcomer Riz Ahmed. But unlike many, she sounds completely genuine with her affection.

“I’m not very experienced, I’ve been working only three years,” she admits.

“I try to be like a sponge when I’m around other actors, picking things up about the way they work and how they do things.”

Jodie has also travelled to Sligo in Ireland to start work on Occi Vs The World.

In preparation for the part, Jodie is never far from her Dictaphone, which is loaded with tapes of the North West Irish accent.

“I’ve never heard the accent before, so it’s quite a challenge learning it. I’m terrified,” she says.

“I just sit around listening to phonetics and reciting them back. My boyfriend doesn’t think it’s much fun. It’s so glamorous, my life!” she laughs.

Judging by the size of the diamond on the third finger of Jodie’s left hand, it’s probably safe to assume she and her American actor boyfriend are now engaged.

“He’s from Yuma in Arizona, and I go there every year for Christmas in the heat,” she says proudly. “It’s the exact opposite of a cold Huddersfield Christmas.”

During her school years, Whittaker only ever dreamed of becoming an actress, and never gave herself a Plan B if things didn’t work out.

“I was 20 and I’d never auditioned before I auditioned for drama school. I didn’t really think it was that difficult to get in.

“They thought I was this strange person from the north when I turned up,” she says.

“I was very, very jammy and had the dialect teacher in the first round of auditions. That’s why I think I got in, because she heard my voice and thought ‘Oh, that’s a nice accent we haven’t got yet’.

“I haven’t had time to think about what’s happened since, but I understand I’m in a very lucky position.

“There’s obviously an element of skill required, but it’s mainly down to luck and timing.”