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A actress who rose to fame in hit 1996 series This Life looks completely unrecognisable now. Daniela Nardini rose to fame as lawyer Anna Forbes in the BBC2 series, which also starred Jack Davenport and Andrew Lincoln.

Before starring on This Life, she also appeared on Scottish crime drama Taggart, and was on the verge of giving up on acting before she landed the BBC2 sitcom role. The series, which aired over 33 episodes and 11 years, followed a group of law graduates who lived together as they attempted to follow their dreams in a London law firm.

It aired for two series, and was followed by a sequel TV movie in 2007, called This Life +10. The role as Anna landed Daniela, now 57, a BAFTA, but she decided to step away from acting and is own running her own CBT (cognotive behavioural therapy) practise in Glasgow.

She then landed her second BAFTA in 2009 for her performance in drama New Town, which aired on BBC Four.

Daniela also appeared on Vera, Waterloo Road, and The Fades, before stepping away from acting in 2019.

She then studied to become a mental health professional, and now helps people with depression, anxiety and behavioural issues, as well as those struggling with cancer and addiction.

30 years on from her biggest role, she looks completely different now after embarking on a new path in life.

In a profile in Psychology Today, Daniela says: "I have worked as an actress for over 35 years.

"This has been an invaluable education for me to study what it is to be human and how we can all suffer at times and feel misunderstood and lonely.

"I myself have struggled at times. My practice involves helping you gain insight, clarity and believe it or not humour at times. I don't shock easily so I won't judge."

She decided to move into the profession after suffering "the worst five years of her life," following her dad's death in 2015, being diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and going through a divorce.

She told Daily Mail in 2020: " went through a very dark period. Sometimes I wonder if it was all the emotional stuff I was going through that caused my cancer.'

"A couple of years down the road, I now feel as if I've emerged stronger and a better person, really. Anna would be proud."