Watch out! Carla Bonner's character is ready to rediscover her partying ways

What's coming up for your character, Steph?
You'll see a crazy side of Steph now Libby's back, forcing her bad influence on her.

What's your favourite Steph storyline?
When Steph and Libby go away to Shepparton together and run a little bit amok. We got to dance on bars and do a bit of Coyote Ugly stuff, which was fun.

And your least favourite storyline?
We did this stupid mine-shaft storyline. How many people in Erinsborough are going to fall down this mine shaft? Haven't enough people fallen down it yet that they've built a ladder?

What's it been like having Kym Valentine, who plays Libby, back on the show?
Fantastic. It feels like she never left. She was there when I started, then she left me and now she's come back and I'm not allowed to leave now.

How do you feel about Ian Smith leaving?
I'm sad, but he'll be back - he can't stay away from us for too long. It's weird not hearing, "A simple hello would be sufficient!" That's what we'd get whenever he'd walk into the green room.

You've been with the show for eight years now. Do you recal your first day?
The Scully family had already been there for a few weeks and I was a latecomer. There was an original Steph who worked for three weeks and then pulled the pin, so I went in for the audition and got the job. I was suddenly on set and I had 19 scenes to do, so I was really thrown in the deep end.

Do your sons Harley and Jhye watch you on TV?
No, they don't really. I make them watch it every now and then to show them why I actually spend so much time away from them! "You guys, this is what I'm doing. Sit and watch it!" I'm just Mum to them and the important thing is to have me home at the end of the day.

Do they want to follow in your footsteps and act?
They both absolutely do. I recently saw Harley's Year 11 school performance and I was blown away. They've both got it in them.

How have you balanced being a working mum?
It's a juggling act, absolutely. I don't have to worry about Harley anymore, but with Jhye it's always making sure there's someone to pick him up from school and someone to fill his lunchbox. Some weeks it breaks me and some weeks it's fine.

How's the romantic side of things?
Yeah, all fine. It's not really something I want to talk about though.

How long do you plan to stay with Neighbours? Is it true you want to do films?
Film's always the highest goal for me. That's what I want to do, but you can't tell what's going to happen and I've got to be realistic and look after my family and stick with my job. It's a great job and I work with some fantastic people, so I'm very lucky.