What is it like working on the show will all those other great actors? I bet you all have fun together.

Bridie Carter: It's fantastic!  Yes, we do have a lot of fun I think if you don't have a laugh in your job then it's not really worth doing.  I work with a fantastic cast and crew and I love going to work each day, I feel very lucky. 

Is your life as Tess anything like your real life as Bridie?

Bridie Carter: Scarily yes!  I recently purchased a rural property and am building a house in the country, it's so strange how life imitates art. 

Hey there Bridie. Just wondering what attracted you to the role of Tess

Bridie Carter: I guess I though it was wonderful to see a story centered around 2 sisters, 2 women.  And I thought the role of Tess was very rich and exciting to play, and I loved the fact that the series is shot on film, and I loved meeting Posie the Producer and I thought the writing was pretty great.  So all these factors found me interested in the project. 

Hi, I'd like to know who, or what the inspiration for Tess was?

Bridie Carter: It's hard to pinpoint one factor, I take my research from the words on the page, and when we started filming in other words, her history.  And my research usually consists of detailed things like, such as what music a character listens to what films does she watch, what books does she read what's her favorite food, what really annoys her, what makes her smile what is she afraid of.  And from all of these a character is formed. 

What's it like to work on the show? Do you ever get nervous?

Bridie Carter: No I don't get nervous, I guess I've been doing it for so long it's my job, I do it every day.  But I can certainly get adrenaline and like every other human being I can get unsure and questioning but generally I have a pretty good time. 

Bridie, are Myles and Aaron as lovely close up as they look on screen?!

Bridie Carter: Do you mean lovely looking? Yes, they're both gorgeous boys, and I love working with them We all have a lot of fun working together. 

As a performer do you believe yourself to be like the role you play in McLeod’s Daughters?

Bridie Carter: No, I'm not the role I play in McLeods Daughters I'm Bridie, and I'm very clear about where my job begins and where it ends.  I go to work each day I put on a costume, I play pretend life with other people's words and then I take off my costume and I go home. 

Coming from a small country town I can relate to your character 'Tess". Was it hard to learn about the country to be able to play your role as "Tess'?

I guess the biggest thing I had to learn was how to horse ride It was difficult in the beginning, but now it's one of my greatest pleasures. Well I'm lucky enough to work in the country so I'm fortunate enough to have that life and I also spend time outside of work in the country so I guess I've got the best of both worlds. 

What other interest do you have? do you play any sports or hobbies you like doing

Bridie Carter: I've recently taken up snowboarding which was awesome and I can't wait for next winter to go again Yes I love horse riding.  I think I'll have to get a horse when the show finishes, whenever that is.  And I'm really fond of animals, so I'm really lucky to have a job where I spend a lot of time with them. 

Bridie, what are you aiming for in regards to your career? Do you plan to stay in Australia, or do you see more opportunities overseas?

Bridie Carter: I'm a true believer in putting yourself out there and seeing what presents itself.  I love working in Australia but if my career was to take me overseas, that would be pretty great.  I'd love to work in England one day.  I think they are great Producers of films, television and theatre. 

Do you believe that the TV show "McLeods Daughters" has boosted your career or believe you have more potential to go on to bigger and better things...

Bridie Carter: Absolutely, because it's such a wonderful show, and I feel very lucky to be playing such a wonderful role as Tess On a long running series it's important to have a role which you cherish, and I think if Tess was a real person she's be my friend and who knows what the future holds, I'll just turn up when they ask me.  end.

Outside filming Mcleods daughters do you keep in touch with the other stars of the series. YOU GO GIRL

Bridie Carter: Thanks for the Go Girl! No, because we spend so much time together filming and most weekends I fly home because I don't live in Adelaide where we shoot.  So it's only rarely that we get together socially but when we do it's a hoot! 

McLeod’s is such a great show. Do you consider yourself a role model?

Bridie Carter: I think in any public arena you automatically are and I hope that I am a positive one. 

Did your family influence you to act or was it one of those things you chose you wanted to be a part of?

Bridie Carter: I don't know what it was, but it's the one thing that I've always I don't know what it was, but it's the one thing that I've always been sure of, that I've known in my heart from a really young age.  I grew up with artists and actors and writers around me as a child, so it was a very natural step for me to take In that way, my family have certainly always supported me.  .

Which McLeod's Daughter's episode did you like best (either to watch, or act in)?

Bridie Carter: I loved when Tess went to the city, I got to dress up and drink coffee and talk about other subjects apart from cows and sheep that was pretty terrific!  I really enjoyed making the episode which was on tonight, and the final episode that will be on next week.  They're two very rich episodes, that were a lot of fun to act and be a part of. 

There must have been events that happened during filming, like a blooper...could you please tell us one?

Bridie Carter: A good one was when a fly got stuck to my lip gloss he didn't want to come off.  I've fallen over so many times I can't remember - once in particular, I stood up with a mouthful of mud and I have been known on occasion to get the giggles really badly. 

Do you enjoy working with an all female cast and those few spunky guys?

Bridie Carter: What can I say... it's great! As I said before the cast is really terrific, and we all make sure we have a good and interesting time at work.  We're all really committed a good and interesting time at work.  We're all really committed to our characters and the stories we're telling, so it's: a great place to work. 

Would you like to see Tess & Nick get together or would that ruin their relationship given the previous times this has been done in TV shows?

Bridie Carter: Tess and Nick have got to get together one day I think the audience knows that deep down they love each other so much I just hope one day they can work it out. 

What do you think about the relationships Tess has with the other people in McLeods Daughters

Bridie Carter: They're all very different, which is fantastic and Tess is very good at talking about other people's relationships but often when it comes to her own, especially with love and intimacy she's pretty frightened. 

Do you see Tess being happily married with kids in the future, with nick perhaps?

Bridie Carter: Definitely I see her getting married, and definitely I see her being a terrific mum, and I think in the bottom of her heart I think she would want it to be with Nick, but we'll just have to see what the writers have in store. 

Ok the nudie on the horse scene, was it a total stretch foryour own character or were u comfortable with it, if it was a stretch, good on ya for doing it.

Bridie Carter:: There may have been a couple of TV tricks in there but I don't want to give anything away.  Let me say, that I thought the scene turned out beautifully. 

May I ask? what was it like doing the scene where u rode into town on the horse naked?

Bridie Carter: Well from my point of view it was fantastic you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes! I thought the Lady Gediva image is a really lovely one. 

Are fans allowed to visit the set of McLeod's? I go to Adelaide often and would love to drive out and visit the set and possibly meet you and the rest of cast?!

Bridie Carter: Unfortunately no.  Only because otherwise we'd probably never get any work done, cause we'd be too busy talking to you guys and having too much fun.  But please feel free to write to us any time. 

Bridie how do you rate yourself with the rest of the stars in McLeods Daughters and do you feel you will not end up as  a shooting star?

Bridie Carter: Oh that's awful!  I don't think that I could ever rate one human being against another, we're all different and gorgeous in our own ways, and whenever you compare yourself to someone else, in my experience, you always end up second best.  I've never been a shooting star end up second best.  I've never been a shooting star and I don't think I ever will be, I'm just Bridie, the actress, enjoying her job. 

Hi Bridie, are wedding bells going to be ringing for Nick and Tess?

Bridie Carter: You know what, I don't even know that! I think there may be a lull in the parade for a while but who knows what the future will hold, I think we all know I think there may be a lull in the parade for a while but who knows what the future will hold, I think we all know what their true feeling are. 

Is the Rumor true that Claire has the baby and Alex is the father figure in its life?

Bridie Carter: Oh my goodness, where did you hear that?! Slanderous gossip!  I can't tell you anything I'm sworn to secrecy, but I think you will really love the end of this series and the next one that we're filming right now.  I know you'll be more than satisfied. 

Whose a better kisser, Nick or Alex?

Bridie Carter: Oh that's a bit rough!  I'll get hit on the head whatever I say by either one of them tomorrow if I answer your question Like I said before, they're both gorgeous boys, screen kissing is just part of our job, and I think I better be quiet now. 

Do u ever get sick of any of the people on the set?

Bridie Carter: Of course I do.  I think when we see people every day that's normal.  I get sick of myself.. don't you? but never in a bad way, just in a totally normal every day way I guess you'd just call it lovingly annoyed. 

What are some secrets of what will be expected next season?

Bridie Carter: Oo,  you're asking all the hard questions I'll say three words, three spunky words new love interest. 

Bridie, thanks for taking the time to chat to us all, and thanks to you & cast for a great show - earlier you mention that you can see Tess being married, is this a spoiler?

Bridie Carter: Not at all.  Because to be totally honest I really don't know what's up ahead for Tess We film 2 episodes at a time, so that's kind of as far as I know for the immediate future for Tess.  And she's definitely not getting married this week. 

Are fans allowed to visit the set of McLeod's? I go to Adelaide often and would love to drive out and visit the set and possibly meet you and the rest of cast?!

Bridie Carter: I think I already answered that question unfortunately no. 

Bridie I just wanted to tell you to keep up the great work on the show.  Would you ever consider leaving McLeod's Daughters before it officially ended?

Bridie Carter: At the moment, like I said before, I am with McLeods more than 100%, and there's no chance of it ending right now so I guess the answer is no. 

Do you find that the general public relate to Tess and not you as a person?

Bridie Carter: That's a funny kind of question, I guess the general public don't really know me although they know Tess You'd only get to know me if you came over for coffee or something. 

Bridie, you are a wonderful actor and really make the character of Tess come alive, is there anything about Tess that you would change?

Bridie Carter: Sometimes she can really put her foot in it but it makes for good drama, so I guess I wouldn't change it.  Sometimes I really wish she'd really act on hearts desire instead of letting her fear stop her.  But that's a journey Tess has to make. 

I really admire Tess' sense of self. She doesn’t let Nicks mum or anyone push her around. Does that come from a part of you or is it very very good acting?

Bridie Carter: Everything I do on screen is all acting, but a character comes from the actor, so essentially it's always a part of me even though it's not me, if that makes sense. 

An amazing show that just gets better, are we likely to see any real tragedy ahead?

Bridie Carter: I hope not.  But where there is life and love and comedy there's got to be a bit of tragedy, so keep watching you'll find out! 

I heard that there's a ghost in your home on Drovers Run? Ever seen it?

Bridie Carter: I've never seen it, no.  But I have certainly felt a presence from the moment I walking into the house, I knew something was a bit strange. 

Each week I watch the show I either Cry or Laugh, do u feel this way when u are acting the part out? Or maybe when you watch the show back at home?

Bridie Carter: Absolutely!  That's one of the great parts of McLeods is that it's full of comedy and drama.  And I believe this makes..

Do you have any on set demands? with J-Lo everything has to be white?

Bridie Carter: Definitely not!  I think if you made on set demands on a film set in Australia, you might get laughed of the set We very much work as a team and I love that part of the job I'm not really interested in making special demands. 

When you kiss people on the show do you ever fell anything more then just work?

Bridie Carter: No.  It's just a part of the job, a strange part of the job sometimes when you're acting out romance in a scene you think to yourself  "this is a pretty weird job but it's very technical, and you've got 50 people watching so romantic isn't really a word that comes to mind.  I am also romance in my work life.  I think it would get a little messy if that were the case, it's never been my scene. 

Do you think anyone on McLeods will ever be "lucky in love"?

Bridie Carter: Of course!  What would a show be or life be without love really, really, really boring. 

Bridie, how can our chat guests contact you?

Bridie Carter: You can contact Channel 9 publicity - that's the best way. 

Unfortunately we have run out of time and so many questions have gone unanswered.  We would like to thank you for joining us today.  Do you have any last words you would like to share with our chat guests?

Bridie Carter: Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me this evening thank you for supporting McLeods, and  I really hope we can bring you many, many more terrific episodes Take care and lots of love, hope to talk to you again soon Bridie. 

MSN live chat with Bridie Carter, 9 October 2002 Produced by ninemsn.com.au