Juliet Bravo's iconic Inspector Kate Longton actress Anna Carteret – after biploar battle

ok.co.uk:

Anna Carteret was one of the biggest television stars of the 1980s, known to millions as Inspector Kate Longton in the hit BBC TV police drama, Juliet Bravo.

Running for five years from 1980 to 1985, Juliet Bravo was ground-breaking in its time. For although police dramas were already well-established on British TV, the series – along with London Weekend Television's The Gentle Touch – put female characters in lead roles, at a time when the industry was notorious for sexism.

To viewers, Anna – who took over as Inspector Longton for three series from Stephanie Turner's Inspector Jean Darblay in the previous three – was just as confident and strong as her TV alter-ego.

But it turns out things couldn't have been further from the truth.The actress, who's now 80, has spoken of a life-long secret battle with bipolar, and recalled how she even considered ending things by 'taking some pills.' Anna appeared on ITV's morning show, Lorraine, back in 2019 to detail her condition, which she's suffered with for more than 60 years – and has credited acting for 'saving' her. "I suppose acting saved my life because without it I would've had to reveal my true self," she revealed on the show.