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Donna Air on growing up on screen: ‘I won’t apologise for not looking like my 10 year old self!’

Donna Air has recently made a return to acting in the BBC drama The Split
Donna Air has recently made a return to acting in the BBC drama The Split

While Donna Air made her mark on the showbiz world as a child actor in Byker Grove back in 1989, it’s been some years since she’s taken on any major acting roles. That is, until her role as Fi Hansen in the latest series of BBC drama The Split.

Speaking on White Wine Question Time, Donna revealed that after having a child, she suffered a confidence crisis.

“I think women's confidence definitely goes as we get older,” she told podcast host and pal, Kate Thornton.

“I think when it's something you really love – like I feel about acting – you do shy away from the things you love because you're sort of frightened.

“I love being on set and doing what I do, but then when you've got to come and do all the promoting it and then actually be in the lion's den, as it was, that's the hard bit because you do put yourself up for all sorts of criticism.”

READ MORE: Donna Air reveals why she put parenting first as she returns to acting

Donna’s acting comeback however has been received really well and she said on the whole she’s received lots of support, despite the odd strange comment that crops up on social media.

“You always get one, which really makes me laugh,” she exclaimed. “The odd one who goes, ‘Oh my God, she's really aged since Byker Grove’.

“That was 25 years ago! It would be a little bit odd if I hadn't. I mean, come on! You get a bit upset that I don't sound or look the same, like I did when I was 9 – as if I should apologise for that. I don't think so!”

Back in the '90s, Donna Air was a presenter for MTV UK
Back in the '90s, Donna Air was a presenter for MTV UK


Donna, who turned 40 last year, said her age now means she’s actually stopped caring about what people think about her.

“As you get older, you realise not to sweat small stuff because there are some really big problems out there and we don't really have any,” she said.

“Walking into a hospital and finding out if you're going to live or die – that's scary. It just puts things into perspective. We're not that important and nobody's dying here. We’re just doing something we really like.”

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This care-free attitude is one that Donna’s pal, and fellow podcast guest, Natalie Appleton wants to emulate when she hits the road with All Saints later this year.

The singer has previously suffered from nerves prior to performing, something that didn’t go away when All Saints made their comeback in 2016 – but this time she’s determined to just enjoy it.

READ MORE: This Byker Grove star passed up interviewing James Brown in favour of partying with The Prodigy

“When I move forward with the gigs we're doing in the summer and stuff, I'm just going to enjoy every second instead of being scared,” she said. “I'm going to enjoy it and have fun. That's how it changed for me now.”

Donna Air and Natalie Appleton appear on the latest episode of White Wine Question Time, hosted by Kate Thornton
Donna Air and Natalie Appleton appear on the latest episode of White Wine Question Time, hosted by Kate Thornton

Donna, who gave up acting to bring her daughter up, says new experiences are something she relishes and will always carry on trying new things.

“I'd rather fail every single day - trip over, fall over,” she said, “than be a spectator on the side lines, who just sits and criticises and tries to put people down.”

Hear Donna Air and Natalie Appleton talk about comebacks, the ‘90s and what makes their friendship tick on the latest episode of White Wine Question Time. Listen now on iTunes and Spotify.