The Guest’s Eve Myles on why other mums find her frightening

Actress Eve Myles says people have been approaching her on the street to tell her they are frightened of her.

The Torchwood star, from Ystradgynlais in Powys, said parents at the school gates tell her they are “quite scared” since her “monstrous” performance in the hit BBC One psychological drama, The Guest.

The 47-year-old mum-of-three said she jumped at taking on the “complex and challenging” role after being sent the script while en-route to a Taylor Swift concert with her daughters.

“I’ve never had so many parents at the school gates telling me, ‘I’m quite scared of you’,” she added.

Best known for her roles in Torchwood, Broadchurch and Keeping Faith, Myles explained why the part of Fran Sharp, a wealthy businesswoman who conducts a dangerously toxic relationship with her cleaner, marked another career high.

“I read three or four pages of the script before the Taylor Swift gig and thought they were dynamite,” she said.

“As soon as I got home afterwards, I put the kids to bed and read the rest of it, before calling my agent and telling her, ‘I’m in’.”

Speaking to BAFTA Chief Executive Officer Jane Millichip at Tuesday’s Wales Screen Summit 2025 in Cardiff, Myles added that she knew her character would invoke a strong response from audiences.

“She’s got this very childlike quality, yet also this monstrous power, strength and unfiltered need to come out on top,” she said.

“I try not to judge any character I play and always seek out something endearing about them, but she was particularly complex, difficult and challenging.”

Myles also admitted having considered quitting acting after being typecast following her breakout role as Gwen Cooper in the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood.

“When you play someone as strong and recognisable as Gwen, it’s quite difficult to come away from that or for other people to see you do anything differently,” she said, adding that she toyed with the idea of enrolling at medical school instead.

“But I think female-led drama is definitely getting better.”