 <unk> was born in Cardiff , Wales in May 1968 , to a Sierra <unk> mother and a <unk> father . She was raised by her mother 's cousin and his wife in Ely , Cardiff . <unk> 's heritage means she is <unk> by descent , although she does not speak the language . <unk> studied at Windsor Clive Primary and <unk> Ely High School , and was a member of the <unk> Youth Theatre , South Glamorgan Youth Theatre , South Glamorgan Youth Choir and the National Youth Theatre of Wales . She left high school before sitting her A Levels in order to pursue her ambition of becoming an actress . She explains : " I 've always wanted to act . I decided at 16 I wanted to make my living acting , but even if I couldn 't , I ’ d be in an amateur theatre company . " She then went on to attend the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama , studying for a three @-@ year acting <unk> . Her first acting role was for the Welsh <unk> when still at primary school , playing a lady @-@ in @-@ waiting at the court of King Arthur . <unk> has stated that it was <unk> Streisand 's performance in <unk> , <unk> ! that inspired her to act as a child , though credits her adoptive mother with encouraging her to act professionally . <unk> 's first job was selling <unk> on <unk> Road Market in Cardiff . She worked as a <unk> whilst attending drama school , and , six weeks prior to graduation , was offered a job with the ' Made in Wales ' theatre company which enabled her to obtain her union card . 
