From All Creatures Great and Small to Harry Potter - Why Yorkshire's 'unique' landscape is attracting film makers from across the globe

As a family we often went to Bolton Abbey and did the circular walk, over the stepping stones. I remember being really young and my dad telling me how my grandfather had been a herdsmen for years in the farm opposite the Abbey.

What’s your favourite part of the county?

All of it. Seriously though, a treat is going to the East Coast and breathing in the fresh sea air. I could be crabbing in Whitby, surfing with my pal Sophie in Saltburn or walking along the beaches - we especially love the beach at Filey. I'd get a telling off if I didn't also mention that my fiancé proposed to me on the stunning Flamborough beach.

What’s your idea of a perfect day out in Yorkshire?

A day out at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster is brilliant. Our two-year-old daughter is obsessed with animals and gets so excited seeing the wallabies hopping around and the giraffes eating the leaves.

Do you have a favourite walk?

One of my favourite walks has to be the circular walk from Aysgarth Falls, which takes you through the dramatic three step waterfalls, to the quaint village of Redmire, then up to the beautifully imposing Bolton Castle and over the West Witton Moor to Carperby.

Which Yorkshire sportsperson, past or present, would you take for lunch?

I'd take the late Rob Burrow and his friend Kevin Sinfield and tell them how much of an inspiration they are for anyone going through health struggles.

Which Yorkshire stage or screen star, past or present, would you like to take for dinner?

It would have to be Dame Judi Dench or Sir Patrick Stewart. Or maybe Sir Michael Palin. I met him right at the start of my career on a show set in Huddersfield and Scarborough called 'Remember Me'. He was so kind and supportive to my young actors.

If you had to name your Yorkshire ‘hidden gem’, what would it be?

Howarth at Christmas - it's just stunning. We head over there almost every Christmas Eve and it's like stepping back in time. If it snows, it's like something out of a Dickens novel.

There's a beautiful cobbled street, lined with quaint shops and cafes and the backdrop is the rolling Yorkshire hills. At the top of the street there's a couple of cosy Yorkshire pubs serving warm mulled wine and hearty food.

Where in Yorkshire would you own for a day?

Rudding Park Spa in Harrogate. I'd take the day to have a digital detox, swimming in the hot outdoor pool, hitting the relaxation rooms and having a relaxing massage.

In our day and age, it is so important to have a complete digital detox regularly, even if it is just for a day.

What do you think gives Yorkshire its unique identity?

Yorkshire's unique landscape is bringing in film makers from across the globe. The Dales are a beautiful backdrop for shows like All Creatures Great & Small and movies such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, filmed at Malhamdale.

We have an abundance of incredible stately homes - Castle Howard has hosted Bridgerton. Parts of Yorkshire’s cities are becoming more cosmopolitan, and there are a lot of suburbs, perfect for telling gritty stories such as Happy Valley, set in Calderdale, Disney’s The Fully Monty was filmed in South Yorkshire’s suburbs and starred an Articulate teenager in a leading child role.

Little Germany in Bradford is a wonderful part of the city and we often see the streets transformed, taking us back in time. That’s not even mentioning the beautiful East Coast and Brontë Country.

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

When I was really heavily pregnant with my daughter Clemmy we took ourselves off to Whitby for a little 'calm before the storm', only to see a literal storm swoop in across the ocean and hit Whitby with snow and high winds. We had planned to go to a restaurant called Ditto, we scrambled up a snowy hill to get there. It was so, so worth it - the most delicious food.

Do you have a favourite food shop?

I love the Courtyard Dairy just outside of Settle. It has the most incredible cheese selection. I love to try different cheeses and listen to the expertise of the staff there.

How do you think Yorkshire has changed in the time that you’ve known it?

I grew up, and work in Bradford. There’s a real sense of hope that the City of Culture 2025 status will attract some needed regeneration and investment into parts of our city centre. Culture has enormous potential to regenerate, so in coming years, we can hopefully show the world how great Bradford is, as the people in our city are incredible.

Who is the Yorkshire person that you most admire?

I have two: my mum and my dad. They spent their lives working in Yorkshire (my dad as a printer in Leeds and Bradford and my mum as a childminder). They're generous, funny, and don't take any nonsense. They also instilled in me and my siblings that it doesn't matter where you come from, you can achieve anything.

Has Yorkshire influenced your work?

There are an abundance of clever script writers setting their work in Yorkshire. This combined with the incredible Yorkshire landscape, means there is a big demand for Yorkshire based (and accented) actors. As an agent to children and young adults, we nurture that talent and find them work in TV/ Film projects - many of which are set and filmed in Yorkshire.

Name your favourite Yorkshire book/author/artist/CD/performer.

Ann Lister's diaries, because without those, Sally Wainwright wouldn't have made the TV series Gentleman Jack

If a stranger to Yorkshire only had time to visit one place, where should it be?

Grassington in the Dales, it's the perfect embodiment of Yorkshire.