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Kidnapped by masked gunmen at the end of the last series, Abby awakes in The Lab dazed and confused, unaware that her life is in danger.

Abby's journey through this series sees her grow from a traumatised victim of the Lab's cruel experiments to a strong and resilient leader. However, her deeply held morality is set to be shaken, particularly in the light of discovering the details of Tom's past and what harbouring him means.

She also acknowledges that the quest for her son must take a back seat to securing a future for her new family. At least until the last episode...

What are the dilemmas Abby has to face in the new series?

"There are lots of things that she has to face that completely challenges everything that she thinks and has thought. Abby changes so much – where she was understanding and frightened, she almost becomes warrior-like. She has to defend the indefensible, which again challenges everything she thinks. Towards the end of the series there is a complete transition from what she was."

What's new about series two?

"The new series is so strong. Last series was just like episodic stories, but this year there is more of a serial element to it. When we got to the end of filming episode six I thought, yes this could go on. Some things happen at the end of episode six which I can't tell you, but it's definitely a story line that could easily continue."

Is there a spark between Abby and Greg?

"Well there's a sort of underlying attraction between Abby and Greg (played by Paterson Joseph), and there always will be, but that never develops in anyway. They just have an affinity with each other. In a different life, there would be a romance. But something happens to his character which prevents that from taking place."

How do you think you would cope in a post-apocalyptic world?

"I don't know. I'd like to think that I'd rise to the occasion, but there's another part of me that thinks I would just lock the door and eat baked beans, and never venture out into the world. It could be a very scary place. I'd try and find a nice country cottage and hide."

What would you miss?

"There's nothing that I would miss apart from people. I certainly wouldn't miss the telly or a microwave or anything. I'd miss a nice lunch in a restaurant every now and again (laughs)."

What would you say is the secret to the longevity of your career?

"Luck! (laughs) I think it's because I have never played a particular type of person. I've always had a very varied career. I don't tend to get pigeon-holed in the same way. I don't play terribly glamorous roles, although I have done. And I don't play dowdy housewives, although I have done that as well. Maybe that's what it is? I don't ever try to act an age that I'm not. I'm a 44-year-old actress and those are the parts that I want to play. I don't want to play someone who's 34. I think some actors cling onto that. But I think it's down to luck as well."

Would you ever go down the route of cosmetic surgery?

"No, no I wouldn't. I'm the age that I am, and I think the parts that I play are interesting people. The older people get the more interesting they get. I wouldn't have a facelift, and I certainly would not inject cows what-ever-it-is. No thank you."

What would you do as an alternative career?

"I love my job and I've always wanted to do it. I'm very lucky that I'm allowed to do it. In this economic climate I'm starting to think maybe I should have another string to my bow! But there's certainly nothing else I'd want to do. I have directed pop promos – I kind of stumbled into it, and really enjoyed it, so I'd like to do more of that."

Do your daughters show any signs of going into the business, have they got the acting bug?

"Well all three and five-year-olds are completely dramatic all the time so, yes, I could see both of them doing it. I wouldn't encourage or discourage. If they absolutely wanted to do it of course I would encourage them, but I wouldn't discourage them from doing anything no."