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You play enthusiastic local reporter Louise Scanlon. How else would you describe your character and what is she like as a person?

She's very ambitious and cares passionately about the community. The temptation was to try and play a villain, someone who comes in and ruins the day, because she is anti Judge Coburn.

I didn't want to play her like that though. I wanted to show that she cares about people getting the truth. She's a journalist and as far as she's concerned it's in the public interest to know if the Judge is a hypocrite in any way.

She's also quite instinctive, and senses that he's hiding something from very early on when she first interviews him.

How does Louise feel about the Judge and the Dovefield Public Justice Centre?

She just thinks it's there for the community, and if it works, it works.

Louise is the Court Correspondent and she can't quite believe she's being asked to go and cover a story like the Public Justice Centre. She doesn't feel it's her area. It isn't until her editor sexes it up by telling her the Centre has had a memo to say the Ministry of Justice may close it down. So then suddenly she's interested because she thinks it's going to be quite a story.

She turns up asking questions at the Justice Centre, seeming very affable and charming. She somehow knows there has been a break-in the night before and the memo has gone missing. The Judge is wondering how this woman can know all these things. Then she digs a bit deeper, and puts her story together about the Judge, and that's when you see what she's found out about him.

Do you think Louise has any compassion for the Judge at all?

Definitely. They grow together as the series goes on. They all team together because ultimately they care about the same things.

There's a moment in episode five where she tells the Judge she has to print what she has discovered about him. It's a sense of knowing she has to print it because that's her job, but there is also a sense of compassion for him too. He tells her to do what she has to do – "I'll do my job, you do yours". Then she gives him some key information, so you know she wants to work with him.

She realises that actually they're on the same side, and he is worth supporting if they're going to bring down Jake Little.

What kind of research did you do to play the role of a reporter?

I went into the Liverpool Echo offices, where I shadowed one of the arts editors who had interviewed me before for different things. I sat next to her while she did an interview which was great because you watch what people do. I asked her to show me how to do shorthand and she said just to do the odd squiggle, no one will ever know!

My friend is a reporter and she was very helpful as well. She gave me some tips and said you should always be very dressy if you're a court correspondent, but always wear practical boots because you're running around after people a lot!

So all those things were really helpful and I just saw the other side of it.

The Echo let us use the office for filming so all the people in the back of shot were the actual journalists. It made it much easier to be with real people doing their job, rather than a sterile environment.

Did it change your opinion of journalists?

It did, yes. I suddenly realised how nervous I usually am talking to journalists that I don't notice it's actually a skill – appearing interested, surreptitiously putting the Dictaphone on, taking notes, making people feel like you can listen.

I have a lot of respect now from shadowing a journalist and it changed my opinion. I was 14 when I started acting so at that age you become a bit afraid of the press.

Do you often film in Liverpool or has this been a bit of a treat?

It has been a real treat! I live in Liverpool now but the last time I filmed there was for the Forsyte Saga which was about eight years ago. It was lovely to be filming back there. Especially with Colin McKeown (LA Production's Executive Producer) because we did Damon and Debbie and Brookside together when I was a child. Every time I see him, I feel like I'm 15 again!

Are there any memorable moments from filming Justice?

There are lots of lovely memories. The biggest thing was that I had a young baby when I started on Justice, but I'll associate that job with being among friends.

I met Tricia [Penrose] again. It was lovely to work with her again, and Colin [McKeown] obviously, and Noreen Kershaw [director and cast member], who I've worked with a few times. It was like a big family and there was a lovely atmosphere.

And of course, the snow! It was extremely cold and we filmed until 21 of December. There was snow in the back of shot one time, and I just remember thinking how Christmassy it was, I've got my little baby, and I'm with all my friends. It was just a really good environment to work in and everybody was very happy together.