On Golden Pond star looks forward to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

If Liz Carling has any pre-show nerves, they are not showing. The 44-year-old actress, best known from Boon, Casualty and Goodnight, Sweetheart, can't wait to bring that classic drama On Golden Pond to the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

"This is a brilliant play, brilliantly written," she says. "You don't have to figure out what the writer means, because it is all so clear."

It helps too, that Ernest Thompson's 1979 play became a multi Oscar-winning movie in 1981.

It starred those screen legends Henry Fonda (in what was his final film role) and Katharine Hepburn.

In the film, Fonda's daughter is played by Jane Fonda. That's the part Liz Carling takes in the stage version.

"It is about people wanting to make up before they die," she explains in a vibrant Middlesbrough accent.

Elizabeth Carling found fame at just 21 when, in 1989, she joined the cast of the Central TV series Boon.

She played Laura Marsh, assistant to private eye Ken Boon (Michael Elphick), appearing in 40 episodes.

From 1997-99 she took took over the role of Phoebe Bamford from Dervla Kirwan for the last three series of the time travel-sitcom set in the Second World War, Goodnight Sweetheart. It has been endlessly repeated since.

"Today, the people who recognise me from it are another generation," she smiles. "It is a charming, charming series that the whole family can sit down and enjoy together."

She admits a great fondness for the wartime era. "I really believe that people looked after each other a lot more back then than they do now."

From 2003-07 she starred in Casualty as police surgeon of Dr Selena Donovan. It was a high-profile role and it ended spectacularly.

Dr Donovan was shot and fatally wounded but gave birth to her premature baby as she died. "Sometimes people ask me if I'll ever go back to Casualty," she laughs. "I have to explain that I'm dead and the only way I could go back is to haunt the place."

But she clearly adores treading the boards in live theatre. She has fond memories of Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre where, nearly 20 years ago, she played the innocent, bewildered Janet in a riotous production of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

On Golden Pond is on tour, taking in 12 theatres in three months.

It also stars Stefanie Powers, the first celebrity to be eliminated from the latest series of I'm a Celebrity. . . Get Me Out of Here!

"It's a great play and I can't wait to get on with it," says Liz.

* On Golden Pond is at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, from January 31-February 4, 2012.