Main content

Michelle Keegan talks her ultimate tips for being a total girl boss

The beautiful Michelle Keegan stopped by to hang with and have a right old chat about her show . But quite frankly that wasn't enough for us so Radio 1 Online managed to worm our way in for a sneaky chat.

After gazing at just how gorgeous her and husband Mark Wright (who was there to support her) were, we got down to the business of finding out how exactly Michelle, and the characters she plays are such major girl bosses...

Describe your character Corporal Georgie Lane in five words...

She is feisty, determined, girl-boss, pragmatic and outgoing. Yeah that's her!

So if she was an animal who would she be?

A wolf! She needs to be part of a pack but she is willing to kill for her boys. YES! That’s a good answer. Ha!

Were there any examples in the show where you just thought 'how one earth did she handle that situation?'

I think just being in the army as a young girl. You hear so many stories about how hard the army is for women but until you actually experience it for yourself, like the training, you think 'God they have so much strength'.

I don’t mean physical, I mean mental. They have to go out and leave their families at home. What they do for their country is amazing.

Credit: 大象传媒

Have you taken any of the hardcore army training into your own life?

I think it’s the discipline! There is no cutting corners. You have to be disciplined with your kit, with you uniform, you have to be on time a lot of the time. So I think that’s carried into my life now. I hope!

It must be really empowering to play such a strong female role鈥�

I loved it. I love playing those types of women anyway but she is probably the strongest woman I’ve played to date. She is so tough and the only female surrounded by a group of men in the platoon. And she was the strong one behind them, the backbone.

You've had a lot of strong roles. Why do you think that is?

I think it’s a vibe I give off! I have a feisty side to me and I love playing the strong women. My mum is a strong woman so I think I get it from her. It’s massive compliment to be given these roles. I must give off a soldier vibe too! Ha-ha.

Has there ever been a moment in your own life where you鈥檝e thought 鈥榶eah I totally bossed that situation鈥�?

Probably at the end of the series, because we were working so hard for six days a week for 10 weeks in South Africa and I didn’t know if I could deal with the heat. And I had to carry a Bergen (an army rucksack for carrying kit) which was 40kg which is almost my weight and it was exhausting.

After the shoot I thought ‘Wow I actually did that!’ I thought I was going to be complaining that it was too heavy but I just got on with it. The whole thing tested me. I watched episode one the other day and I was really proud.

Credit: 大象传媒

What about a time where you wished you'd been more of a boss?

I probably wish I’d worked harder in school. I loved school but it was more a social thing for me. I did well in school but I could have done better.

What female do you personally look up to in the industry?

I love Olivia Coleman! I’m a massive fan of her. And Suranne Jones, I was with her on Coronation Street. Before I started Corrie, my character was very similar to her’s. She played Karen and I played Tina and I think my character was based on Karen when she left. Suranne always plays strong women as well and I really look up to her.

What girl boss character do you wish you could have played?

Eat your vegetables, do your squats and don't let boys be mean to you!

A Bond woman would be amazing. But I would love to have played Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider. Lara Croft! I’ve done the training so I’m half-way there. Now I just need to get her face and body! She is so hot.

Er, we think you鈥檙e doing alright...!

Ha-ha thank you!

Give us your mantra for being a girl boss...

I love the one that’s ‘Eat your vegetables, do your squats and don’t let boys be mean to you’! It’s a soldier-y one too!

And give us your best tips for bossing the following situations:

Being a girl boss at work...


I think with lads, you need to be able to take their banter. And give it back to them twice as hard. Go straight for them and don’t back down!


Juggling a work/life balance...


I’m lucky because when I was doing [ITV's upcoming drama] Tina and Bobby I had weekends off. So I’d be in a hotel, come back have room service and read lines. Then at weekends I went home and I could have a date night with Mark and see my family. There is no point in having the best work in the world if you don’t have something to come back to.


Guys treating you badly...


Don’t let them! I always say when you are younger you need to love yourself before you can let a guy love you. Know your worth, don’t just settle for anything less. Put yourself first - always!


Negative attention...


I’m experiencing that right now but you can’t listen to it. Concentrate on the positive things and put your blinders on to the bad otherwise it will consume your whole life.

  • Watch Michelle Keegan star in the second series of Our Girl

  • Judge Rinder talks to Scott Mills about all things Strictly Come Dancing

  • Radio 1 online grabbed Zara Larsson to find out all about her amazing new single

September on Radio 1