'Hollyoaks' Q&A: Stephanie Davis on Sinead's future

Hollyoaks star Stephanie Davis has now been working on the soap for a year, playing the role of feisty schoolgirl Sinead O'Connor. Last year, viewers saw Sinead endure a series of family dramas as her stepmum Diane's desperate desire for a baby caused mayhem for her loved ones. More recently, Sinead has been reunited with her real mother Morag, befriended bitchy schoolgirl Ruby Button and embarked on a relationship with rebellious Bart McQueen. Digital Spy recently had a quick chat with Stephanie on set at the Hollyoaks Music Show to hear what's coming up next for Sinead and the O'Connors.

After a year at Hollyoaks, has it been everything that you expected?
"It's been everything and more. It's just so good to come to work and do something that you love. Everyone's lovely here and it literally is like the Hollyoaks family. Even when I spoke to people from other shows at the Soap Awards, they commented on how we all seem like a family and really look out for each other. So I get to come to work to do what I love with people that I love - it's brilliant."

We've seen Sinead show more of a bitchy side in the past few weeks - what are your thoughts on this?
"I love it! I love playing the bitch and I want to do it more. I think Sinead did start out quite cocky and a bit of a bitch, and then as things went on with Diane and things like that, she did become a bit more laid-back. I think Sinead feels like she can't trust anyone, so she puts a barrier up and pushes them away a bit."

How will things progress for Sinead in the coming weeks?
"She will open up a bit more and make a few new friends. She's got some interesting stuff coming up. She goes nice for a little bit, but then the bitch starts coming back! She'll have a bit of a rivalry with someone…"

Is the storyline between Sinead, Ruby and Esther just schoolgirl bitchiness or could it become more of a serious bullying storyline?
"I think it could be more serious with Ruby, but not with Sinead. I don't think Sinead's really like that. I don't think Sinead is a bully, I think she's just the 'bad girl'. So I don't think we'll see Sinead as a severe bully, but we could see her getting into the wrong type of things and mixing with the wrong type of people - the bad characters of the show!"

Do you like the relationship between Sinead and Bart?
"Yeah, Jonny Clarke who plays Bart is one of my best friends in real life, we're really close. Everyone always asks if we're together in real life and I'm like, 'No!' because he's got a girlfriend!"

We do see Sinead away from the rest of the O'Connors quite a bit, so would you like to see more scenes with her and the family?
"Yeah, I would. I have had quite a lot of stuff with Diane and recently we've been filming together so much - it's been non-stop with full days. I think Diane is going to start speaking to other people, not just the kitchen sink! (Laughs) We'll have also scenes together over meal-times and things like that, but I am enjoying working with the other characters as well - Sinead's getting out there and doing different stuff."

Could we see Sinead's real mum return any time soon?
"I'm not sure at the moment - I don't think we'll see her return any time soon. Maybe we could see her return later on, but I think everything's cool at the moment. I enjoyed working with her as she was lovely - she was really laid-back and very different from me!"

Finally, are you enjoying working with Hollyoaks' new boss Gareth Philips?
"Yeah, he's really nice. He's really easy-going and if you have a problem, you can go up and speak to him. The other day, I had a meeting with him in his office and he said, 'This is what's going to happen - tell me what you think'. He's like a friend and he's very straight with you. I like that, it's really nice and it's never daunting going up to the producer's office. When he first started, obviously we all saw him as the boss but now it's just completely relaxed and I get on with him really well. I think he's done really good with the show as well."

The Hollyoaks Music Show returns for a new series on Saturday at 9.20am on Channel 4.