Former Eastenders star returns to Harley Street after horror car crash

Jul 6 2008 By Steve Hendry

THE last time Kim Medcalf was in Harley Street she was a patient at one of its prestigious clinics.

The actress was treated there after a car crash - but refused to let the memories stop her taking a role in a glossy drama about the road's medics.

Kim-best known as EastEnders' feisty Sam Mitchell - had to be cut free from her Toyota's wreckage after a smash in France in 2002 in which she suffered a broken leg, breastbone and wrist.

But her lengthy battle back to health did not put her off playing practice manager Annie Harker in ITV's new drama Harley Street.

Kim, 33, said: "I know it's surprising but I didn't think about that side of it.

"I didn't bring to bear my experience of being a patient to Harley Street. I'm completely over the accident.

"I did my research for the show with my brother and sister-in-law, who are both doctors. I asked what a practice manager does andwhat you need to be a good one."

Harley Street - which also stars ex-EastEnder Paul Nicholls and former Coronation Street star Suranne Jones - is Kim's first major TV outing since she left Walford in 2005.

Her character Sam fled to Rio to dodge jail for the murder of Dirty Den Watts.

Since then Kim has appeared in ITV1's gritty drama The Fixer and on stage in the West End in Cabaret.

Harley Street is a sleek, sexy drama about ambitious doctors juggling stressful work and home lives.

Kim's character Annie keeps the practice ticking over and is a shoulder to cry on.

There is just one downside - her nurse's uniform.

Kimsaid: "I'm in it all the time. That's my wardrobe apart from one episodewhere I change into Lycra to go running. They said, 'We're very pleased to tell you that you do get out of uniform once - and into spandex.' "But it's a great show with a great team of solid actors and we've had lovely guests, including James Fox, Leslie Phillips and June Whitfield.

"That's been really enjoyable - each brings a different aspect to episodes."

Kim showed off her singing talents on Comic Relief Does Fame Academy in 2005 but was beaten in the final by Scots Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman.

However, her impressive voice won her the role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret.

Kim said: "On a personal level, it was probably the greatest job I've done.

"It was such a challenge - I hadn't done anything like it before and the singing is not easy.

"You are belting out five big songs every night. You have to make sure you are physically fit to do that.

"I had been working with Dame

Judi Dench the previous year and she told me she had played Sally when she was 33 and there was I about to do the same thing. No pressure then!

"Getting the part was terrifying and exciting. It was a real privilege to play that part in the West End."

Kim also writes and records songs with her brother but her main focus for now is Harley Street.

That said, she cannot rule out a return to Albert Square.

She said: "EastEnders has a place in my heart. Sam is in Rio, waiting in the wings, although we do have the small issue of the murder to get over - but you never know."

Harley Street is on ITV1 on July 17 at 9pm

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I'm always in uniform aside from one show where they put me in spandex