Cassie from Skins

Name?

Hannah Murray. I’ve got greatgrandmothers called Hannah on both sides of the family – so I was sort of named after both of them.

Date of Birth?

June 16, 1989. That makes me a Gemini, though I only ever read horoscopes when I am very, very bored! Being born in June means I was one of the youngest in my school year. I always quite liked this fact because when I was very young I thought it would mean I would live a bit longer.

What are you most famous for?

I suppose I am most well known, well probably only really known, for playing Cassie in the TV series Skins. I really don’t consider myself as famous though.

What would you like to be most famous for?

For talent and hard work rather than luck and coincidence.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Grey’s Anatomy and Kit Kats on toast.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?

When I was about eight, I went with my family to watch a man do ballroom dancing by the Bristol Docks. He dragged me up to be his partner. It was horrible! And my mum has photographs!

Following your role as Cassie, do people with anorexia or mental health problems identify with you. Does this put pressure on you?

I’ve had some people say they identify with Cassie because they’ve had similar problems to her. I think it’s great if that can be a positive thing for people. It doesn’t put pressure on me, no. 

Do people confuse you with your character in Skins? How annoying is that?!

It is a bit weird that when strangers come up to me in the street! It’s always to ask “Are you Cassie?” It’s not really annoying – it makes a lot of sense as Skins is on TV at the moment. I suppose that’s what people see me as. Although it would get pretty frustrating if people saw me as somebody that I wasn’t for the rest of my life!

Do you know anything about children in care?

I don’t have any experience of being in care, and I don’t have any friends who have been in care.

What’s next for Hannah Murray?!

I am in a play called That Face. It’s on in the West End for ten weeks and began in May. It’s by a young writer called Polly Stenham and deals with a very dysfunctional middle class family in which I play the daughter, Mia. 

What’s your favourite: Film

Badlands.

TV Programme

The Singing Detective.

Band

The Beatles or The Velvet Underground.

Tell us one thing that you’ve never revealed in an interview before...

I can’t ride a bike.