Five years after a contracting a hospital infection that left her partially paralysed Leslie Ash is to return to work.
The former Men Behaving Badly star, who still uses a walking stick, had landed the part of a scheming executive in medical drama Holby City.
"It has taken a long, long time and I'm not perfect, but I'm ready to be back at work," said the 49-year-old, adding that the new role would serve as the "last piece of the jigsaw in my recovery".
Her character Vanessa Lytton, who also requires assistance to walk, will be seen on screens in October. Leslie described going for the audition - her first in 30 years - as scary.
The nerve-wracking try-out undoubtedly paled, though, in comparison to the experience of contracting MSSA – a strain of superbug MRSA. It was six months before the screen favourite was able to take even a few steps.
"I could have sat myself down in a wheelchair and just gone through life," says the indomitable actress. "But there was this defining moment when you say to yourself, 'I am going to get up, I am going to work hard', and you put one foot in front of the other."
Photo: Getty Images
