As the star of 1976’s most controversial TV drama, Susan found fame overnight.

An astounding 26 million viewers watched Bouquet of Barbed Wire as it shattered sexual boundaries and shocked and enthralled in equal measure.

The show’s star Susan was propelled into the spotlight as she turned heads with her overtly sexual portrayal of Prue.

Based on a novel by Andrea Newman the story follows the middle-class Manson family over one hot summer as they are torn apart by their manipulative daughter. ITV has recently announced it will be filming a three-part remake of the series, staring Trevor Eve as Peter and Hermione Norris as Cassie.

Bouquet of Barbed Wire launched Susan's career, particularly because she wasn't afraid to be provocative with her performance of Prue. Susan says: "She was controversial because she used her father for her own needs. She knew he fancied her and wanted to control him and get her own way."

Susan admits that she wasn't prepared with the fame that came along with the part. "I wasn't taught how to deal with fame and I was swept along with it."

More recently, Susan played Emmerdale’s Jean Hope, Bob's estranged wife. She has worked constantly for the last 40 years, something she is very proud of. "I've kept working for 40 years and in the industry I count simply being in it a success. Getting older doesn’t mean you're not sexual any more. I don't see why we should go off the radar."

Susan is married to Duncan Preston, who plays Douglas Potts in Emmerdale. They were originally married in 1986, but divorced in 1992 after what Susan describes as a mid-life crisis.

In 1997, she and Preston reunited. Susan explains: “Several friends, including my ex-husband David, had died or were ill. I realised how short life was and that I'd had a man I loved very much and wanted to be with."

Susan is philosophical about her career, which, has, most recently, involved touring with the Agatha Christie Theatre Company, performing a selection of the author's plays.