Waterloo Road star fought back the tears when leaving daughter for filming

The battle of Waterloo.

Waterloo Road star Vanessa Hehir has told of the daily tears shed filming the BBC’s Greenock-set drama.

Vanessa and husband Leon Ockenden, who plays fellow teacher Hector, have a young daughter Lyla. And being away from her during long filming days took its toll.

“Luckily my mother moved up to Glasgow to help look after her but leaving her every day was so tough,” confides London-based Vanessa, who plays Sue in the BBC1 series.

“I’d leave at 6.20am and not get home until 8pm, six days a week. I didn’t sleep for months and I used to cry every day in the car learning my lines.

“The last three months were the toughest when I had heavy storylines.”

Having her mum on hand was crucial for Vanessa.

“My mum’s phenomenal with children I could almost be jealous of her relationship with Lyla because they get on so well,” smiles Vanessa.

“Although I knew she was in safe hands you just miss them. I’m sure it’s the same with all working mums but, oh God I felt guilty.

“You’ve got to set a good example and I want my daughter to be the best woman she can be when she grows up.

“I want her to follow her dreams and show her that women can go out and work. But it’s a massive juggling act.”

As we chat, Vanessa admits the tears made a reappearance that very morning. It was the first day at nursery for Lyla, who’s now two-and-a-half.

Vanessa and Leon were stressed-out parents left standing by as the toddler took it all in her stride and didn’t even look back after a cursory, ‘I love you.’

While Vanessa dotes on Lyla, there’s clearly just as much affection for Leon.

They both starred in Heartbeat, though with Leon joining as a dishy doc just as Vanessa’s tomboy mechanic Rosie was leaving.

They got together at a promotional event and Vanessa, 33, can’t help but giggle as she recalls the way Leon doggedly pursued her.

“We had met briefly at another audition about five years before and he started flirting. Then he showed up at the Heartbeat day and he was such a charmer, not dissimilar to his character in Waterloo Road.

“So at least Sue and I have something in common we can’t resist cheeky boys.

“He left me singing voicemail messages every day. He was relentless and funny and I finally agreed to go for a date to put him out of his misery.

“Everything happened so quickly. We were engaged within a year, married the following year and then had a baby.

“We’ll be married four years this month it’s been wonderful.”

Heartbeat’s loyal fans still write to her every week. And the screenings on ITV3 have won at least one new fan Lyla.

“I owe everything to Heatbeat,” says Vanessa. “I’d grown up watching it as it was my parents’ favourite show and it was my first acting job at 17.”

But it’s Waterloo Road that telly fans are enjoying at the moment, especially as it has just been axed and we’re seeing the first of the last two batches of episodes.

The attraction between Sue and womaniser Hector has been growing and this week they’re teetering on the edge of a full-blown affair.

“We’re seeing a different side to Sue,” adds Vanessa.

“She’s tempted by Hector and there’s a lot of exciting stuff coming up. It might be coming to an end but I think Waterloo Road can be really proud of itself.

“It’s had 10 brilliant series of delivering great storylines, so when it does end it’ll be going out on a high.”