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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zoe Delaney

Happy Valley's Alison's real life - Line of Duty ex and sex scene with Johnny Depp

Happy Valley fans are convinced Alison Garrs will play an integral part in Catherine Cawood and Tommy Lee Royce's possible deadly battle on Sunday night.

Thanks to spotting a telling sign in the credits for the final episode of the crime drama, Happy Valley fanatics are certain Alison's role in the third and final series of the BBC crime drama will get a lot bigger this weekend.

Although Alison is absent from the 22-second teaser for the final episode, fans have worked out how the former farmer will help save Catherine's life when she faces evil Tommy one last time.

Ahead of Sunday night's eagerly-anticipated finale, we take a look at the actress who plays Alison and her star-studded connections.

Happy Valley fans think Alison Garrs will have a big storyline during Sunday's final episode (BBC/Lookout Point/Matt Squire)

Happy Valley and Line of Duty crossover

Susan Lynch, who plays Alison in Happy Valley, isn't the only star in her family.

The Sex Education actress was once married to Line of Duty star Craig Parkinson, who played Matthew 'Dot' Cottan in the BBC drama, but the pair called it quits in 2019 after 12 years of marriage.

According to reports, the pair 'quietly' ended their romance and continue to co-parent their 11-year-old son together following their decision to divorce.

Susan's ex-husband also starred in a popular BBC police drama (Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)
The mum-of-one 'quietly' split from the Line of Duty actor in 2019 (Getty Images)

Craig’s dad, Derek Parkinson, appeared to confirm the break-up in 2020, telling MailOnline: "Yes, they have split up. It’s very sad but Craig is okay, and people do know. They are trying to stay amicable, it’s just one of those things."

An insider went on to claim the former couple just 'grew apart' and there was no bitterness to their split.

Derek continued to explain how his son and former daughter-in-law both have busy careers and simply decided it would be best for their family if they ended their marriage.

Craig spoke about their marriage shortly before the split (WireImage)

Speaking before their split, Line of Duty star Craig revealed he and Susan had relocated from London to Gloucestershire and 'got rid' of their TV in a bid to improve their relationship.

"My wife and I were watching some s*** like I'm a Celebrity in our flat in Camden, and realised we hadn't spoken to each other for ages. We decided to get rid, then we moved out of London. We've never looked back," he explained in an interview back in 2016.

Hollywood sex scenes

Susan's Happy Valley role isn't the first time the actress has appeared in a major TV show.

In addition to stints in series like Sex Education, Doctor Who, Killing Eve and ITV drama Unforgotten, the mum-of-one has shared the big screen with some huge Hollywood stars.

Susan appeared alongside Johnny Depp in the 2001 film From Hell, a movie based around the murders of Jack the Ripper in Whitechapel, shared a title billing with Ewan McGregor in Nora (2000) and received a British Independent Film Award nomination for her role in Beautiful Creatures (2000) with Rachel Weisz.

Susan as Anna in Killing Eve. (BBC)

"Well... Ewan is amazing - great fun and wonderful to work with," Susan told the Sunday Mirror in 2001 when chatting about her Hollywood co-stars.

"We had a wonderful time making Nora and became good friends."

She went on to add: "Unfortunately, I didn't have many scenes with Johnny Depp in From Hell. Johnny was great. He didn't stay on his own in his trailer like some actors of his stature might.

The Happy Valley star alongside Jason Flemyng in a scene from the 2000 movie From Hell (Redferns)

"He mixed with the rest of us and was really lovely. I just wish I'd had more scenes with him, but mainly I was lying at his feet in a pool of fake blood. Actually, it is all so bloody that the director told me they felt they may have problems with my death and the film censors because it is so graphic."

Recalling the sex scenes she had to film with her Nora co-star Ewan, Susan admitted

"Joyce and Nora had a very intense and sexual relationship, so doing the film was pretty heavy - especially that week," the actress remembered in 2001. "But Ewan and I just clicked and we were very comfortable with each other, which made the sex scenes much more comfortable for everyone.

She added: I always think doing love scenes is harder for the crew than the actors because at least you are concentrating on trying to look like you are making love, whereas the poor crew just don't know where to look."

Career joy

Susan says she's very lucky she gets to 'play' for a living (ITV)

Speaking in 2017, Susan revealed how grateful she is live her dream and make a living as an actress.

I never thought about it as a career. It never ever felt like a career and it still doesn't," she told Irish News.

"Once I left college and started earning money I thought "if I can eat and pay my rent and still do this, then good" and now I think 'if my kid has everything he needs, and I can pay the mortgage then, phew'.

"I 'play' for a living and I'm constantly thinking that one day I'm going to have to grow up and do a proper job. Luckily that hasn't happened, yet."

*The final episode of Happy Valley airs this Sunday at 9pm on BBC One

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