The next series of Skins is back on UK screens on January 23 courtesy of Channel E4. Two of the key Characters, Franky Fitzgerald, played by Dakota Blue Richards and Mini McGuinness, played by Freya Mavor spoke to us a couple of weeks ago amidst a frantic last week of filming. Speculation is rife about what will happen to their characters in series six, and indeed whether the "Minky" boat will sail or sink. Both actresses gave their perspective on all things Skins, how their characters change and how they define the relationship between their characters.
AfterEllen.com: How has your day been, Freya?
Freya Mavor: I am having a day when I am eating food like there is no tomorrow so you’ve caught me when I’m in a post-lunch mood.
AE: How do you feel about finishing filming Skins 6 so soon?
FM: The whole process has been amazing, particularly in that you have the experience of being a character in a TV show and then you get to do it all over again. I think all of the actors have improved and have really come into their own in this series.
AE: After you finished Series 5, how quickly were you told about what would be happening to Mini in series 6?
FM: A lot of what is decided is open to change and throughout the filming process little bits are tweaked. But about two months before we start filming we’re all brought in and told the general story arc and then you have to get your head around that and get into character.
AE: In series 5 I think it would be fair to say that the perception of Mini as a character changed a lot from beginning to end. What did you think of her development?
FM: It’s funny because I never went up for the part of Mini, I went for Liv and Grace and it wasn’t until the final day that I was reading for Mini, got the part and went straight into filming a few days later. So I didn’t have time to process much about the character and I didn’t really have any prep as to why she was so malicious and nasty, but it was great as well because she’s so different to me so is very fun to play.

AE: Because of that, did you create your own backstory for Mini?
FM: I was given hints about what her family life was like and with any character you have to fill in the gaps otherwise they lack credibility. I am at the point now where I understand Mini; I know why she’s being a bitch without resenting her actions.
AE: Did you watch Skins before appearing in the series?
FM: I’ve watched all of it, so from when I was quite young, which is weird. I’ve been a massive fan because it was the first of its kind to deal with issues on such a gritty level. It was a massive shock when it came out and I suppose it still is.
AE: The difference with this series seems to be that the characters don’t seem as defined as the last generation of Skins, they seem a lot more carefree maybe?
FM: I think that was a deliberate move by the writers because Skins before did become quite sinister and quite intense. Particularly in Series 4 when there was a lot of hard issues being thrown into the mix. I think that they wanted to bring back a more child-like, adolescence feel to it. So it has more of a first time feel and a sense of discovery with characters - dealing with first loves and confusion over their sexuality for instance.
AE: What did you think of "Naomily" from the previous generation?
FM: I thought it was a fantastic storyline and obviously it was so successful with the audience. I think it was really perfect for that time because it showed true lesbian romance that hadn’t really been portrayed in such a meaningful way. Essentially it was just a love story about two people falling in love but the fact it was two girls just made it really and they were certainly the couple of that generation.
AE: Mini and Franky have now been defined, as "Minky" but their relationship is very different than "Naomily"’s because it’s more ambiguous and not everyone is rooting for them it seems.
FM: With the whole "Minky" storyline it is more infatuation than actual lust. They are both intrigued by one another because they see a lot of their own traits within each other, but at the same time they express themselves in completely polar-opposite ways. In the next series they are a lot more merged and you can see the influence they’ve had on each other. Franky especially – and I think a lot of people will be quite shocked – she is not the androgynous, outsider she was. She is a lot more feminine and sexy and this is due to the impact they have had on each other both mentally and physically.

AE: How much of Franky’s new feminine ways do you think is down to Mini’s influence?
FM: Certainly in part, but I think Franky has come into her own. She brings everyone together in Series 5 really and in Series 6 she has a stable group of friends that allows her to explore and experiment. Mini still has her bitchy, hard front but it has been stripped back because of Franky’s influence.
AE: Because of the influence they have over one another do you think they would work as a couple?
FM: Personally, I don’t because they need each other as a rock and they seek guidance from one another more than anything. Their friendship is explored massively in this series and there’s an episode that purely focuses around their relationship. In series 6 they both go through such crazy storylines that at points show that their relationship is too intense and poisonous to be anything more.
AE: Is what happens to "Minky" what you would have liked to happen?
FM: I am really proud of it. I think it’s a really interesting portrayal of an unconventional friendship. The effort by everyone in making this and the whole series has been immense and I think everyone feels really proud of what we’ve done with Series 6.
AE: We previously interviewed Kat Prescott and Lily Loveless and they told me that they were besieged with fan mail and people telling them their roles in Skins had helped them come out – have you had anything like that?
FM: I think because the story of Franky and Mini is not a love story in terms of a relationship it’s much more subtle and hidden than that so the impact hasn’t been the same. I haven’t had people telling me that I’ve helped them come out, but we’ve had people come up to us routing for the relationship to happen. And there’s been a lot of activity on the Internet by fans whom are on the "Minky" boat, shall we say.
AE: Where are you going to leave Mini when series 6 finishes?
FM: I don’t know it’s hard not to feel nostalgic and disappointed that there is no kind of end and you have to let your character go. It’s hard to think they are just fictional when I have been that character for such a long time.
AE: After you’ve finished filming what is next for you?
FM: I’m having a break for a few weeks because it’s been non-stop for six months. I think I might go to Paris for a few months, I’ve always wanted to go and I have a friend who has a one bedroom flat there so although it’ll be tight it’ll also be an experience.


AE: How are things, Dakota?Dakota Blue Richards: I’m all right. It’s our last week on set at the moment so things are pretty hectic.
AE: In Series 5 I think it would be fair to say that Franky is a very ambiguous character, how was the character defined to you when you first got the part?
DBR: They didn’t tell me a whole lot because they didn’t have a clear idea before she was cast. I knew she was going to be ambiguous, androgynous, have an unusual path and for it to be unclear as to what she wanted out of life. 
AE: Were you told a lot about her backstory, some of it seems very dark?
DBR: Skins doesn’t like to do big backstories because they like to do things in the here and now. I knew that she had a lot of different people look after her and subsequently suffered when forming relationships but the writers go on develop it.
AE: In Series 5, did you know the whole story arc between her and Mini beforehand or was it a surprise?
DBR: It was a complete surprise. Skins develop things as they go along and it depends on how on how things are going on set. Originally Mini and Franky were going to be enemies and not make up. However because there was an interesting dynamic between the two characters they decided to play on that in a different way but it wasn’t ever on the cards initially.
AE: Franky has been defined, as a gender queer character would you agree with that?
DBR: One of the things that I was told very early on is that Franky doesn’t want to be a girl and that’s not to say that she wants to be a boy or that she wants to be anything at all actually. She just wants to be — and most people don’t understand that. Most people are threatened by it and that’s the position that Mini takes at the beginning.
As the series developed she came out of her shell a lot more and that’s definitely something that happens in this series. Right at the beginning of this series [Series 6] she (Franky) blossoms overnight and is very comfortable with herself — her body and herself — which is something that she wasn’t at all before. And I think that’s a consequence of having found love in some ways. Not necessarily love in a romantic sense, although that has been a part of it but she has a lot of people around her that want to show her love. In Series 6, Franky wants to be herself and although she has become more styled and girlie she isn’t defined by this, she is defined simply who she is.

AE: Speaking to Freya earlier, she spoke about how Franky and Mini had, had an influence on one another and one of these influences was her new feminine look – would you agree with this? 
DBR: I think it’s interesting she said this but I wouldn’t necessarily agree. I think whatever Franky does comes from within and what Mini has done is made her comfortable being whoever she wants to be – whether it’s a girl, a boy or something in the middle.
AE: Does Franky feel like a different character to play in this series?
DBR: It’s been quite nice for me this series because the way that Franky’s clothing and her style has changed is a representation of her opening up and becoming more herself which is something she hadn’t allowed herself to do in Series 5. You can see in this series that her look changes with her mood. For instance, she dresses more feminine when she feels loved and dresses differently when she’s in a sexually dominant relationship.
AE: What can you me tell me about how Franky and Mini’s relationship develops in series 6?
DBR: Mini and Franky are very comfortable hating each other because they do actually understand each other and from that understanding comes a deep trust and a love. There are points in the series when they clash but that’s only because they care for each other so deeply. In episode 9 Mini is asked whether she is there to look after Franky or is Franky there to look after her? She replies, "neither, we are here to look after each other." I think this sums up what their relationship is all about.
AE: Is Franky and Mini’s relationship in Series 6 what you would have expected to happen after how it was left in Series 5?
DBR: It’s actually better because I was worried that the writers would aim for something that was very commercial because of the demand by some fans for "Minky" to happen and the actual storyline that they’ve created is beautiful. Mini and Franky are never going to just have sex because it’s not sexual, it’s much deeper than that and I hope all the fans appreciate it for not being predictable.
AE: What reaction have you had to playing Franky?
DBR: Very positive because I think a lot of people felt that they could really feel like they could connect to her. That’s why I wanted this role because I wanted to play someone that was relatable and that people could take something away from.
AE: What are your plans post-Skins?
DBR: I’ve got my A-level exams to do in January and in the summer so I’ll be focusing on that but beyond that I’m not really sure. I’m 18 in April so although a daunting prospect I want to move out and do things on my own, although I’ll probably be back home most weekends!

Freya Mavor arrives at the Pringle catwalk show, at One Marylebone, in central London, as part of London fashion week. 21/02/2011

• Freya Mavor has found it difficult to fit in her final-year studies at school with her new TV role. Picture: Ian Georgeson

As her mother quickly shoved her into the toilets of the posh restaurant, Freya Mavor wondered if she had lost her mind.

Shaking her by the arms, staring into her daughter's eyes, she repeatedly joked: "Why are you being such a bitch?"

"I didn't know what she was talking about," the teenage actress says. "Then she finally told me, 'You're playing the bitch in Skins!' She had just found out, before me, that I had the part."

That was back in June on a Thursday. By the Sunday, 17-year-old Freya was in London preparing for an intense four months of filming in Bristol for the hit E4 series, a gritty drama that follows the ups and downs of a group of raucous teenagers, covering everything from sex and friendships to studying and parental relations. Now, a month or so after filming ended, she is back in Edinburgh and focusing on getting her Highers at Mary Erskine's, nervous about her television debut tomorrow night when Skins returns to our screens for its fifth series - with her at the helm as "the bitch", Mini McGuinness.

"I am petrified - really nervous," the tall, blonde teenager from Canonmills says. "I am worried about how my performance will be received by my family and friends.

"At school, the guys in my year have been taunting me too, telling me they are really looking forward to my sex scenes."

Judging by Freya's maturity and confidence, any friendly jibes from her male schoolmates will surely be taken on the chin, and it's likely her raunchy scenes - which she admits she was terrified of filming - will probably silence them anyway.

As for her family, it is unlikely she could ever disappoint. From the moment her mother was told her daughter had landed the role of fiesty Mini, the dominant teenager in the cast, she could barely mask her pride, whisking Freya away to tell her the good news in private - but not before building up a little suspense.

"I was doing some work experience with a theatre company in Glasgow," Freya explains. "It was after the final show and my mum came to meet me at the restaurant we were in. She kept telling me I had to go to the bathroom with her to take a look at the decor. It was such a posh place and she was calling me a bitch."

Articulate, polite with a warm and chatty nature, she certainly appears anything but a "bitch" in real life, yet her character Mini fits the description like a glove. A fiesty, manipulative, over-bearing teenager, she is a girl with a lot of issues.

"There are reasons for her armour though," says Freya. "Insecurities and vulnerabilities.

I think any teenage girl can relate to that - I can. Teenage years are tough years for girls.

"I love playing her, but at first I was petrified of her character as it felt so alien to me. After a while she became someone I knew and I almost think of her as a little sister now. I know her the best."

It has been something of a whirlwind six months for Freya, who developed a love of acting from a very young age and will be the first Scot to take up a lead role in Skins.

Her love of performing was evident early on when she and her older brother Zander, 19, would put on plays for their parents as youngsters growing up in the Capital. They spent a lot of their childhood travelling as a family as well, meaning Freya has attended nine schools and experienced cultures as far afield as Turkey, Greece and France.

"It was just something my parents wanted to do, so we were taken out of school to go abroad," she says. "We always had to do work, though, and make scrapbooks of the places we had been to. There are some really special memories in those books.

"I absolutely loved living in France and in many ways I think of it as my spiritual home, but I owe Edinburgh a lot for the great opportunities it has offered me. I would never have had the chance to audition for Skins if I had still been in France, for example."

Although she beat competition from thousands of other budding actresses to land a lead role in Skins, Freya has never lost focus on her studies and, despite missing out on lots of lessons since starting her sixth year in August, she is determined to do well in her forthcoming exams.

"When we were filming I was still expected to keep up with my studying," she says. "But I never realised just how demanding it would be. I always wanted to give the acting my all as well, so it was hard.

"I am playing a game of catch up at the moment at school. Last year I worked so hard, though, and I did really well. I know I can do this and I will beat myself up if I don't."

Whether she will go on to university remains to be seen as she has already been tipped for great things in the acting world, notably by co-star Clare Grogan, who plays her party-loving mother in the television series.

The former Gregory's Girl actress and pop star reportedly said she felt she "couldn't teach her anything" on set, while also insisting Freya has a "massive future ahead of her".

"Well, I don't know about that," she says, shrugging off the compliment. "Clare was so lovely to me. I first heard about her from my dad and then went on the internet to read up on her and recognised a lot of her music. She really was great to work with.

"If I can go on to amazing things then great. I know I want to experience different types of drama, though, including stage, so we'll just see."

One thing is for sure, Freya will definitely be in the next series of Skins as well.

It's something of a dream come true for the teenager who has watched every episode created having followed the series with her brother since it first aired.

"I've always loved it. We used to settle down in the living room with bowls of snacks every week," she says. "That's why this is all so mad for me."


Awards and awareness
Skins, the BAFTA-award winning television drama, first hit our screens in 2007.

The brainchild of writers Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain, it follows the lives of a group of teenagers at a Bristol sixth form college.

From the outset, Skins quickly earned a reputation for its successful handling of controversial storylines, which have included sexuality, eating disorders and mental health.

Now entering its fifth series - as the cast moves on from college a new set of characters is introduced - the show has continued its tradition of casting amateur actors, of which Edinburgh's Freya Mavor was one.

There are currently plans for a Skins film, and a US adaptation of the British series has just been launched.

Watch Freya Mavor in Skins, tomorrow on E4 at 10pm.

Source: Edinburgh Evening News

"Skins star Freya Mavor has revealed the first series of the hit show inspired her to rebel and throw wild parties at a young age.

The teenage actress plays popular girl Mini in the new series of the E4 show, which had a reputation for inspiring young people across the country to hold outrageous parties in their parents' homes.

Freya said she really related to the first series, adding: "I was living in France and I was really badly behaved back then.

"I was leaving the house without my parents knowing, throwing parties and stuff like that when I was really, really young. And it's an inspiration almost, Skins, to act rebelliously as a teenager."

Laya Lewis - who plays sex-mad Liv in the new series starting on January 25 - likes the series because they are teenage actors playing teenagers, which makes it more realistic for young viewers.

She said: "What I think is so shocking about it is 16-year-olds do take drugs and have sex and there's no point covering that up.

"It's very risque but that's what makes it work.

She added: "I think if you were to follow a teenager around with a camera I think you'd find out so much more about them than when they're just with their mates. Even your friends don't know half about you.

"That's what's really interesting about Skins, I think because it is almost documenting a teenager's life, because they all have their own episodes."

"I filmed this trailer during the Pringle of Scotland SS’11 campaign shoot starring Skins (season 5) star Freya Mavor. Campaign was shot by legendary art and fashion Photographer Walter Pfeiffer. Shoot took place in December 2011."

Tell us something about your background... I was born in bonny Glasgow, but moved to Edinburgh shortly after. Around the age of seven I took over a year out of school to go abroad, where my parents (attempted) to homeschool me, resulting in a massive scrapbook, filled with childish scribbles and badly spelt essays, as well as many snaps of foreign kittens. I lived in La Rochelle for four years after that, and to this day I still consider it my ‘spiritual home’. Then the family decided to move back to Scotland, and we've been here for the past three years. It took me time, but I’ve grown fond of Edinburgh, and just this year I got my first acting job on Skins. It feels incredible to be able to pursue my passion.

How did the Pringle collaboration come about? I got a call from my agency saying they were looking for a Scottish actress for the spring/summer campaign. I was so shocked, I could barely speak when I got off the phone. I just started laughing, it seemed so unreal.

How did you find working with Walter? He was very chirpy throughout the shoot and kept everyone positive, which was great.

Describe your Skins character in five words... Dominant, ambitious, devoted, insecure, insane.

Now describe yourself in five words... I don’t think I can. [that's five, we counted]

What are your New Year's Resolutions? I know it’s clichéd, but I just want to make the most of this year, enjoy every moment and keep in touch with those I love… And also persuade the rents to get a new kitten!

Freya Mavor is finding it difficult to fit in interviews this week.

She’s into extreme essay-writing for her final-year dissertation on organ donation which forms part of her studies in religious and moral philosophy at an independent Edinburgh school.

And, as if her studies weren’t making life hectic enough, Freya, 17, is dashing between Edinburgh, London and Bristol to promote the new series of Skins, the in-your-face yoof TV drama she’s just joined.

She’s a member of the third generation of teens who muscle into series five of the award-winning programme, the first episode of which airs on E4 next week.

In the programme, Freya plays Mini McGuinness, whose willowy blonde good looks may have all the boys swooning over her, but whose queen bee demeanour masks a more vulnerable side.

For someone who’s never acted professionally before, Freya’s screen debut is pretty striking.

“I was very apprehensive,” she says of filming on location in Bristol. “Because I’d never done it before, it was even more worrying, but I couldn’t imagine how nice everyone was going to be.

“Obviously Skins is joyful and lovely, even though it can be quite dark sometimes, and I just couldn’t believe I was getting to live out my passion like that.”

Of Mini, Freya giggles that she’s “a bit of a bitch, really”.

“She’s manipulative, slightly bossy and demanding, a bit of a stereotype of the tall blonde school bully, really. But as the episodes go on you see behind that, and see that she’s not really a bully as such, but someone who always wants to be in control, and doesn’t like it if something is unfamiliar.”

Already a fan of Skins, Freya decided to try out for the show after overhearing people talking about open auditions while she was on a bus. After eight auditions, she was surprised to be cast at all, let alone as a character so hard-nosed.

“I’m the last person to start bossing people around,” she says. “I’m such a pushover, and would be terrified of Mini in real life. Sometimes I could hardly say the lines because I felt so bad and kept wanting to say I was sorry.”

If the name Mavor rings a bell with theatre-goers, it’s because Ms Mavor’s small-screen debut in Skins sees her become the latest member of an artistic dynasty that has had a major influence on the Scottish and international theatrical scene.

Her father is James Mavor, who, apart from leading the MA screenwriting course at Edinburgh’s Napier University, is developing an adaptation of James Hogg’s Confessions of a Justified Sinner with Ian Rankin, whose work he adapted for the 2007 TV film, Reichenbach Falls, directed by former Traverse playwright and member of the Merry Mac Fun Show, John McKay.

Mavor has also written for popular TV dramas such as Dr Finlay and Monarch of the Glen since his career began with award-winning plays at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Further back in the lineage, Freya’s grandfather was Ronald “Bingo” Mavor, the Scotsman newspaper’s theatre critic from the late 1950s until 1965 when he became director of the Scottish Arts Council.

During his tenure, Mavor encouraged Jim Haynes and Richard Demarco at the fledgling Traverse Theatre, and later helped to develop the former Third Eye Centre in Glasgow, which would eventually become the Centre of Contemporary Arts.

As a playwright, his works were produced at the Byre Theatre, St Andrews, and the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. One of these, the 1972 piece, A Private Matter, controversially featured a full-frontal nude scene that might even cause Skins aficionados to blush.

However, it was Freya Mavor’s great-grandfather who really changed the Scottish theatrical landscape. As a playwright, Oswald Henry Mavor, aka James Bridie, he was influential in Scotland, London and on Broadway with works such as The Anatomist (1930) and Mr Bolfry (1943).

Even more significant, however, was his role in setting up the Citizens’ Theatre and a college of drama in Glasgow in 1950, the forerunner of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, effectively changing Glasgow’s artistic map forever.

Mavor/Bridie also played a role in the inauguration of the Edinburgh International Festival.

“I never really saw much of my granddad,” says Freya of Ronald Mavor, who died in 2007. “I guess writing is quite an isolated thing to do, so there was never anything glamorous to be around, but I must have got this passion for what I do from somewhere, so it must have influenced me.

“It’s brilliant to think of some of the things my great-grandad achieved, which were phenomenal, but it’s nice to go in on the acting side of things. Obviously I can ask for tips, but I’ve never acted in front of my family, so it’s going to be quite strange.”

Freya’s previous acting experience was in school productions of Shakespeare’s The Tempest as Miranda and in The Merchant of Venice prior to a stint in the National Youth Theatre.

She has plans to continue her passion on stage and screen, expresses a penchant for physical theatre – “not mime!” – and would love to play that other tough cookie, Hedda Gabler.

“She’s an insanely strong character,” Freya enthuses, “but I wouldn’t want to get typecast in bitchy parts. That’s not the role I’m used to in life. At least, I hope I’m not a controlling bitch.”

In truth, theatre has never been very far from Skins, from its playing style to its creative personnel. A certain Scottish influence also crept into the mix long before Freya was cast. Skins co-creator, Loanhead-born Bryan Elsley, began his career in the 1980s as a Scottish Arts Council-backed trainee theatre director, working with 7:84, Wildcat and the Traverse Theatre, and adapted Robin Jenkins’s novel, The Cone Gatherers, for Communicado in 1991.

Elsley had also been one half of the comedy duo, Dusty and Dick ,with Harry Enfield, who was cast in series one and two of Skins as the father of leader of the gang Tony. Other sketch show actors such as Sally Phillips, Morwenna Banks, John Bishop and Arabella Weir also lent the series a heightened archness that suggested all grown-ups are ridiculous. Peter Capaldi played the terminally angry dad of geeky Sid in a manner not unlike his Malcolm Tucker creation, receiving visitations from the likes of Maurice Roeves and Mike Nardone as he went. In series three there was even a scene at a bus stop involving a bottle of Irn-Bru and a bad impression of a Scottish accent.

Developed from workshops and with large dollops of creative input from the cast and a pool of their contemporaries, Skins is effectively youth theatre on the telly, albeit prettier, racier and with a better soundtrack.

However, Elsley isn’t involved in this third generation, having decamped to the US to work on an American version of the show, while his son and Skins co-creator Jamie Brittain takes charge back in Blighty.

Given her own pedigree, what does Freya’s father think of his daughter’s move into the spotlight?

“He’s mortified,” she says. “No, I’m joking. My parents are just happy that I’ve started doing something I love. Of course, any dad watching their daughter in a programme like Skins would always be worried, but by the same token I’m really nervous about my friends and family seeing me act, because it leaves me really exposed, and if I’m really bad at it then I’m screwed.”

Beyond her dissertation, high on Freya’s list of priorities are plans to attend the Edinburgh leg of a series of Skins parties taking place in the home town of each cast member.

Whether the event ends up as debauched as similarly styled nights-out in the show remains to be seen, although, at just 17, Freya’s under- age status may already be causing a kerfuffle.

“It is an over-18 thing,” she reflects, “but I’m sure they’ll make an exception. They can’t kick me out. That would be quite bad.”

And for a moment there, it could be Mini McGuinness talking.

Skins is on E4 from January 27. The Skins party is at The Caves, Edinburgh, on January 25.

SKINS actress Freya Mavor was reduced to tears before filming her first sex scene for the controversial teen drama.

The 17-year-old schoolgirl is the first Scot to land a lead role in the award-winning Channel 4 show.

Freya, from Edinburgh, will star as hell-raising Mini McGuinness in the fifth season that returns on E4 later this month.

Viewers will see the pretty teen enjoying several steamy trysts with Sean Teale, 18, who plays Mini's boyfriend Nick Levan.

In her first ever newspaper interview, Freya revealed she wept about stripping off for the cameras.

She said: "I was honestly petrified, just so scared. I had to go away and have a wee cry to myself, which sounds so sad.

"I was just so nervous because I had no idea there would be so many people around during scenes like that.

"But I know now everyone's concentrating on their job and nobody's judging. Everyone's just having a laugh."

Hunky co-star Sean recently admitted his parents would never watch him naked on the box.

But Freya's mum Judith, 52, and dad James, 49, have insisted they watch their daughter's raunchy scenes.

Freya - who has a boyfriend - said: "They're insanely liberal and supportive about the whole thing.

"They couldn't care less.

"I just cannot think about my parents watching me.

"They're like 'deal with it, we've seen sex scenes before, you know'.

"I'm worried about when the time comes. It'll be hard but it's a job."

Freya had planned to study philosophy before her big break.

She's currently in her final year at Edinburgh's posh Mary Erskine School and reckons staff at the all-girls private school won't be happy she is in a show obsessed with sex and drugs.

The blonde beauty added: "They're happy that I'm managing to start a career in what I want to do.

"But with the material in the show, they can't promote it.

"They're all 'well done, well done', but they're probably seething inside that I'm doing something so inappropriate.

"It's not great publicity for them."

Freya beat 8,000 hopefuls to the part at open auditions in Bristol after overhearing a conversation about them on a bus.

She said: "I was very bad and didn't really tell school about it all.

"I had a lot of auditions so I ended up taking tons of time off, but I think it was worth it - I'm happy.

She added: "Everything's insane at the moment. I'm trying to combine work with doing essays on organ donations.

"I'm desperately trying to stay on top of it, but I'm finding it difficult."

Freya was born in Glasgow but grew up in the capital's Canonmills area after moving there as a tot with her parents and brother Alex, now 19.

She first became interested in acting after watching Jack Nicholson horror flick The Shining when she was ten years old.

And Freya - who counts Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton among her idols - was a Skins fanatic before joining the cast.

She said: "I've been watching the show religiously since the beginning.

"It used to be a ritual for me and my brother to watch it. He's happier about me being in it than I am."

But Freya is worried Skins fans could end up hating her troubled character Mini.

She said: "People will despise her at times - she does some pretty harsh things.

"She doesn't have much control over her life and she gets involved in a few fights.

"That's what makes her interesting, though."

"Personality-wise, we're nothing like each other.

"But in terms of experiences of attitude, doing inappropriate things and behaving badly, then definitely.

"I think it's all part of growing up."

Gregory's Girl legend Clare Grogan plays Freya's party-loving mum.

Freya revealed: "Clare was awesome. I had about two days working with her. One of the days was more upsetting because we had some emotional scenes.

"She took me back to the hotel and had a drink with me after work."

Clare loved working on the show. She said: "Freya's got a massive future ahead of her. I felt like I couldn't teach her anything."

The former 80s pop pin-up says landing the role has made her a popular aunt.

She revealed: "My nieces and nephews are thrilled. They can't believe I'm starring in something so edgy!

"There wasn't anything quite as upfront when I was growing up. The nearest thing to it was Crossroads."

The fifth season of Skins starts on January 27, on E4. The Skins cast promo tour will hit Edinburgh's The Caves on January 25. Freya and her co-stars will be joined by rising Scots dance star Kid Adrift. Details at e4.com/skins

 

PRINGLE OF SCOTLAND has enlisted Skins actress Freya Mavor for its spring/summer 2011 campaign, as part of its promise to champion burgeoning Scottish talent. Mavor, who follows in the illustrious footsteps of Tilda Swinton as the label's face, was shot by legendary photographer Walter Pfeiffer for the images - his first campaign for a fashion label. We caught up with her to talk about the experience.
How were you chosen by Pringle, did you audition or did they come to you direct?
I was lucky enough to get a call from my agency asking if it was something I would be interested in doing. They needed a Scottish actress for the campaign; I was thrilled they asked me as I only recently landed my first acting job in Skins so it came as a complete shock. Of course I said yes, it's an amazing opportunity I wouldn't want to pass up.
How did it feel to be chosen for such a big campaign?
It felt incredible; I just started laughing when I got off the phone. It seemed so unreal.
What did you think of Pringle before you worked with them?
Well my mum seems to have a fetish for finding random Pringle pieces. She's often brought me back items of clothing she "just couldn't resist" buying, bizarre woolen skirts and even once a pair of cashmere pants. So I've always linked Pringle to my mum, when I went off to Switzerland to do the shoot she asked me to steal some jumpers to bring back for her. However, although tempted, I thought it might be slightly unprofessional to head back with a bag full of stolen goods.
Did you enjoy the shoot, had you modelled before?
The shoot was great, and it was made even better by the fact we were in this amazing village in the Swiss mountains. The location truly was stunning. I haven't done modelling before, but we've done a few promotional photo shoots with Skins. However this was very different from those shoots.
How was working with Walter Pfeiffer?
He was very enthusiastic and chirpy throughout the whole day, so that kept me smiling. I wasn't very familiar with his work before this, but I made sure to do my research beforehand. It was almost scary when I realised how renowned he was, but that simply made me all the more excited to work with him.
What did you think of the clothes you wore at the shoot? Did you have a favourite piece?
Pringle do have some great outfits, they were great fun to wear. The shoes were fabulous; I wish I could walk properly in them though. I think my favorite outfit was a pair of white, floaty high-waisted trousers with a blue and white checkered chemise on top and a black collar. I felt like I should be wearing a huge white sun hat and lounging around drinking cosmopolitans and speaking in French. It oozed chic.
Do you have plans to do any more modelling?
I would have to say that modeling has never been an ambition of mine; it was something that just came out of the blue and seemed like a great opportunity! Although I loved the experience, and I love photo shoots as they always seem to be such a laugh, I much prefer acting. That's where my passion lies, and it's one of things I love doing most. If other great opportunities arise then of course I'd consider doing them, but for now I'm very happy where I am starting out an acting career with Skins (which I absolutely love), and shooting with Pringle was undoubtedly a great experience!

"Pringle of Scotland prefers to pick its own countrywomen for its ad campaigns—see the previous Ryan McGinley-lensed Tilda Swinton shots for proof. (Or better, check out our video featuring Ryan and Tilda, self-proclaimed “brothers from another mother.”) For Spring 2011, the label tapped the Scottish actress Freya Mavor, who stars in the cult-adored English TV series Skins. (Think of it as a U.K. Gossip Girl: The show, which also helped to launch the career of best-dressed bloke of 2010 Nicholas Hoult, is a raunchy, sex-filled teen drama—one that MTV is adapting for American audiences this season.) The ads were shot by renowned photographer Walter Pfeiffer, working on his first-ever global campaign for a fashion brand. He’s Swiss—but the Scots can’t have ‘em all. "

"PRINGLE OF SCOTLAND has enlisted Skins actress Freya Mavor for its spring/summer 2011 campaign, as part of its promise to champion burgeoning Scottish talent. Mavor, who follows in the illustrious footsteps of Tilda Swinton as the label's face, was shot by legendary photographer Walter Pfeiffer for the images - his first campaign for a fashion label. We caught up with her to talk about the experience.

How were you chosen by Pringle, did you audition or did they come to you direct?

I was lucky enough to get a call from my agency asking if it was something I would be interested in doing. They needed a Scottish actress for the campaign; I was thrilled they asked me as I only recently landed my first acting job in Skins so it came as a complete shock. Of course I said yes, it's an amazing opportunity I wouldn't want to pass up.

How did it feel to be chosen for such a big campaign?

It felt incredible; I just started laughing when I got off the phone. It seemed so unreal.

What did you think of Pringle before you worked with them?

Well my mum seems to have a fetish for finding random Pringle pieces. She's often brought me back items of clothing she "just couldn't resist" buying, bizarre woolen skirts and even once a pair of cashmere pants. So I've always linked Pringle to my mum, when I went off to Switzerland to do the shoot she asked me to steal some jumpers to bring back for her. However, although tempted, I thought it might be slightly unprofessional to head back with a bag full of stolen goods.

Did you enjoy the shoot, had you modelled before?

The shoot was great, and it was made even better by the fact we were in this amazing village in the Swiss mountains. The location truly was stunning. I haven't done modelling before, but we've done a few promotional photo shoots with Skins. However this was very different from those shoots.

How was working with Walter Pfeiffer?

He was very enthusiastic and chirpy throughout the whole day, so that kept me smiling. I wasn't very familiar with his work before this, but I made sure to do my research beforehand. It was almost scary when I realised how renowned he was, but that simply made me all the more excited to work with him.

What did you think of the clothes you wore at the shoot? Did you have a favourite piece?

Pringle do have some great outfits, they were great fun to wear. The shoes were fabulous; I wish I could walk properly in them though. I think my favorite outfit was a pair of white, floaty high-waisted trousers with a blue and white checkered chemise on top and a black collar. I felt like I should be wearing a huge white sun hat and lounging around drinking cosmopolitans and speaking in French. It oozed chic.

Do you have plans to do any more modelling?

I would have to say that modeling has never been an ambition of mine; it was something that just came out of the blue and seemed like a great opportunity! Although I loved the experience, and I love photo shoots as they always seem to be such a laugh, I much prefer acting. That's where my passion lies, and it's one of things I love doing most. If other great opportunities arise then of course I'd consider doing them, but for now I'm very happy where I am starting out an acting career with Skins (which I absolutely love), and shooting with Pringle was undoubtedly a great experience!"

"The E4 teen drama has gained a reputation for its graphic take on sex and drugs during its previous four series.

No holds barred ... Skins sails close to the wind with its sex and drugs storyliness
No holds barred ... Skins sails close to the wind with its sex and drugs storylines
Channel 4

It returns on January 27 with its third cast - who say they have loved stripping off for their sexy scenes.

But not everyone is getting on in the act, with Will, 17 - who plays pothead Alo Creevey - saying he is annoyed that his character keeps his clothes on.

Familiar face ... Dakota Blue Richards
Familiar face ... Dakota Blue Richards

He said: "I was really excited when I first got my script - I was flicking through it looking for my first sex scene and I don't have one.

"I was gutted. I was really looking forward to getting my kit off. I wanted to get naked. It is not Skins if you don't get naked. It is a real shame."

But there was no such drought for Sean Teale, 18, who plays stud Nick Levan. He has several raunchy scenes with screen girlfriend Mini McGuinness, played by Freya Mavor, 17.

He said: "She is absolutely beautiful and I really got along with her.

"It was character-building doing the sex scenes. We talked about it beforehand, but we never rehearsed it in our own time. It just kind of flowed."

He added: "In my first week I found myself doing a lot of nude stuff. I was thrown in at the deep end on my first day - I was naked and I got puked on. It made my opening experience quite rough."

Sean added: "My parents would have loved me to have been in a period drama instead.

"My dad was flipping through the channels once when the last series was on and when he saw Skins he was absolutely gutted, so they are bracing themselves for what is to come.

"They are going to close their eyes and not watch some of the stuff."

But single Sean said he was looking forward to the attention from girls that the series will bring.

Jessica Sula ... apprehensive about role on sexy show
Jessica Sula ... apprehensive about role on sexy show

He said: "I want to be professional, but I do want to enjoy the attention as well.

"But you have to be careful - a lot of these people won't have wanted to know me before I was in Skins."

Bosses have said there will be more of a focus on the girls in this series, after the boys took centre stage last time. Jessica Sula, 16, who plays prim Grace Violet, said she was apprehensive about taking the role at first because of the show's sexy reputation. She said: "When the show first came out it was a big shock. I was only 11, so I was a bit young. When I told my mum I was going to audition for it, she said, 'Is it that show?'

"But my mum understands this is what I want to do. She understands it is only on TV."

Producers have promised the new series will be more fun after the last run was criticised for being too dark, particularly when one character got battered to death.

Series producer Matt Strevens said: "Things were heavier in the last series because the characters were older and had bigger things to deal with.

"But with the new cast, they are younger and we can have some fun with them. We want to bring more of its silliness back in."

Alexander Arnold, 18, who plays heavy metal fan Rich Hardbeck, added: "It is still dark in places. It isn't a political show - it is just a representation of youth culture.

"We lay out scenes that viewers can relate to."

Raunch of a new show ... the younger cast of the lastes Skins are set for more fun, nudity and romps
Raunch of a new show ... the younger cast of the lastes Skins are set for more fun, nudity and romps
Nicky Johnston

Most of the new actors are unknowns, with several being chosen after taking part in open auditions which attracted more than 10,000 wannabes.

But one cast member is more familiar - Dakota Blue Richards, 16, who plays Franky Fitzgerald. She previously starred in Hollywood movie The Golden Compass.

A lot of Skin ... sexy new cast love getting their kit off
A lot of Skin ... sexy new cast love getting their kit off
Channel 4

But she said that having fame before had not changed her take on joining the show.

She said: "I don't think it has given me any kind of advantage because this is so different to what I have worked on before. I have never done TV and it all moves so much quicker.

"The others wouldn't ask me for tips. We all have our ups and downs, but generally we all get on. It is quite nice because I have never worked with people my own age before." Dakota's androgynous character also misses out on raunchy scenes - only because she doesn't know what she likes yet.

She said: "My character doesn't have sex with men or women yet. She is very innocent. She is so reserved and buttoned up - I would love to have some nude scenes.

"I am very jealous that most of the others get raunchy scenes. This series has the potential to be the best yet as it is so different."

But Dakota conceded the new cast will have to put some work in winning over die-hard fans who grew accustomed to the old faces.

She said: "There will be some prejudice about it as it is the third generation." Jessica said she had already suffered internet abuse, despite the series not even starting yet.

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She said: "People can be cruel and it is not nice. One mistake I made was going on the internet and people were being mean, comparing us with the old cast.

"But the sad thing is that they don't even know us yet."

Several former Skins stars have gone on to huge international success, such as Nicholas Hoult - who starred in Tom Ford's Hollywood movie A Single Man - and Dev Patel, who appeared in the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire.

Sean - who is deferring a university place to do Skins - said: "It is a fantastic springboard as a show and you can really up your profile from it. Quite a few of us want to carry on in acting after.

"But I am realistic about the industry and my parents made sure I have a back-up plan with uni."

"IT'S the gritty drama which has hooked the nation's teenagers for years.
But while most youngsters would not even admit to their parents that they watch hit show Skins, one Edinburgh girl has had to break the news that she has landed a lead role in the new series.

Freya Mavor has turned her acting dream into a reality after being selected from 8000 hopefuls to appear in the new series of E4 programme.

The 17-year-old from Canonmills will form part of the new eight-strong cast in series five, and she can't believe her luck.

She said: "It's insane to think I'm in Skins, I've always been a fan and I'm so lucky that I'm in something which I've always admired."

Talented Freya will join seven other young actors - three girls and four boys, aged 16-18 - to head up the new gang.

The show has a reputation for breaking new talent, and open auditions were held for the roles at venues in London and Bristol in April, with Freya impressing the judges at the Bristol audition to land her first big screen role.

She said: "I got the part through the open auditions in Bristol. I overheard about them in conversation on a bus and thought this was something I needed to be part of.

"I went along, queued for hours, made friends - it was crazy but all totally worth it."

The entire cast of Skins changes every two years and Freya will remain in the show for the next two series.

The after-the-watershed programme is set in Bristol and follows the group's college years, and the life experiences they have, often dealing with controversial subjects.

A spokesman for the BAFTA award-winning programme said: "Freya plays a crucial part, she's one of the main girls. Skins follows the group's two-year college process and teenage life. It's the period of your life where you start to dye your hair and get tattoos and piercings. It is about growing into your skin."

Freya has been busy filming for her new role since mid-July and will continue filming until December, before the new series starts in January.

Executive producer of Skins, John Giffin, said: "More people than ever turned up this year for the open auditions. It was a huge process but incredibly rewarding, and we hope that the auditionees had as much fun as we did. We now have a brilliant cast of actors for series five."