'I'm a woman in her forties who's finally found her voice'

Amanda Abbington has been in the acting business for over 20 years.
She's starred in a variety of television shows and films, including
Sherlock, Mr Selfridge, and Safe.
But it wasn't until she was cast in the lead role in the BBC drama The Split that she finally felt like she had found her voice as an actress.

"I think I've always been a bit of a chameleon.
I'm able to adapt to different roles and different accents,"
says Abbington.
"But I never really felt like I had a handle on who I was as an actress.
I was always trying to be what other people wanted me to be."

That all changed when she was cast as Hannah Defoe in The Split.
Hannah is a successful divorce lawyer who is struggling to balance her career and her personal life.
Abbington says she immediately connected with the character.

"Hannah is a strong, independent woman who is not afraid to speak her mind," says Abbington.
"She's also flawed, and she makes mistakes.
But she's always trying to do the right thing.
I really admire her strength and her resilience. "

Abbington says that playing Hannah has helped her to become more confident in her own voice as an actress.
She's no longer afraid to take risks and she's more willing to speak her mind.
She also says that the show has helped her to connect with other women who are struggling to balance their careers and their personal lives.

"I've had so many women come up to me and tell me how much they relate to Hannah," says Abbington.
"It's been really rewarding to know that I'm helping other women to feel less alone.
I'm really proud of the show and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to play Hannah."

Abbington is excited for the future and she's looking forward to continuing to explore different roles and characters.
She's also hoping to use her voice to help other women who are struggling to find their own voices.

"I want to be a role model for women of all ages," says Abbington.
"I want to show them that it's never too late to find your voice and to live your life on your own terms.
I'm a woman in her forties who's finally found her voice.
And I'm not going to stop talking now."