'Free to be Me'
Emma Cooper in Sprit and Destiny Magazine, May 2003

''Fresh from shaking things up in Casualty, Liz Carling is determined to spend serious 'me' time at home in north London. And as she tells Emma Cooper, that means anything from visiting her Vortex healer to crying in a crystals shop!

Liz Carling bounces barefoot into her sitting room, eyes shingin, skin glowing, a wide grin illuminating her face. She has lit some candles and is burning lime and orange oils for 'extra zest' she explains. Not that she needs it. Liz, 35, is positively zinging as she sits cross-legged on the floor, jeans and a cropped pink T-shirt flattering her slim, toned figure.

With a long list of TV shows including Goodnight Sweetheart, Border Cafe, Barbara and Casualty to her name, she's a busy actress. But when she speaks of her spiritual beliefs, lifes and loves, it's clear she understands the importance of nurturing her soul.

Do you believe in fate?
I believe that things happen to you for a reason. Sometimes it's difficult to see at the time, but things always work out the way they're supposed to. It's pointless worrying about the future, whatever's going to happen will happen. You have to seize the day.

Do you consider yourself to be a spritual person?
I believe there are negative and positive energies you can sense from people and about certain situations. I listen to my gut instinct more now than I ever used to. At times I have ignored my intuition, and things have fallen apart and I'll think 'My guts told me to do that and I didn't listen.' For example, in relationships when I've thought it's time to get out but I haven't.

I know you hate being asked this, but speaking of relationships there was that seven year one with Neil Morrissey –
Absolutely right – I get fed up with being asked about that! It's very disempowering as a woman to have this mentioned over and over again. But yes, that relationship played a big part in forming the person I am now. I've grown up a lot in the five years since then. Neil and I are friends now, we don't speak on the phone but I don't ignore him in the street!

Would you like to settle down?
I would love to meet someone. I want the real deal – children, a dog... it's probably just around the corner. Who knows? I don't fall in love very easily but when I do, wow! I'm lucky because I'm happy on my own. I have great friends and am close to my family. That's what gives me strength. to know that I'm loved and to give love back. We're on this planet for a short time and in that time we have to love each other and make a difference to each other's lives, care about and protect each other more. That's my religion, to do the best by other people.

Is there any telepathy between you and your twin, Laura?
We used to buy the same birthday cards for people. And I once brought an embroidered jewellery box back from Hong Kong for a friend, only to find Laura had brought her an almost identical one from a Newcastle store!

I see you have a few crystals around the place.
I was given a candle holder as a present, made of rose quartz. It's good fro promoting self-love – if you don't love yourself you're going to have difficulties loving anyone. When I was shooting Border Cafe I kept some rose quartz in my bra – I wanted it close to my heart! On Casualty I carried Amazonite in my pocket, it has a very grounding energy that helps my confidence. Sometimes I choose crystals because of the feeling they give me when I hold them. When I picked up the Amazonite, I felt soothed so I knew immediately it was the one. I go to a crystal shop in Crouch End, London, where I live. It's a peaceful place. Yesterday I walked in and burst into tears – you feel nurtured there. In my game you have to be tough and I'm tough as old boots when I have to be, but I am quite sensitive too.

What else comforts you?
Angel cards. I pull one out each morning. My card for today was enthusiasm. I love the pictures: when I get the one saying joy it makes me laugh my head off! Sometimes I use them to get answers for certain situations. Theyr're a comfort blanket for me, make me feel I'm not on my own. I also talk to my grandma, who died about eight years ago. I used to visualise her and my auntie in the studio when I was filming Goodnight Sweetheart. It relaxed me, sensing them looking after me.

Do you visit alternative therapists?
I was in the doctor's waiting room last summer when I read about a Vortex healer called Suzi Morris. I felt I was reading this because I was meant to. I was feeling a bit down at the time and I'd lost my appeatite so I went to see Suzi. After a session I went to the pub absolutely starving and had the best bangers and mash I've ever tasted! Since then I've gone back to Suzi as and when I need to. I think it's about letting go. I cried during my first session. The tears were going in my ears but I didn't feel I could lift my hands to do anything about it. We all carry around a lot of stress, fear and pain. Sometimes it comes out in ways it shouldn't, such as rage or jealousy. If you can find a different outlet for it, then do.....'