Television star Jill Halfpenny wants to turn genealogist and research her family tree.
The 31-year-old who is playing Mother Nature in Jack and the Beanstalk at Newcastle's Theatre Royal, has revealed she wants to trace her ancestors and find out more about where her surname comes from.
The former Gateshead schoolgirl - who is returning to our screens in a second series of teachers drama Waterloo Road this week - admits she's dying to be asked onto the programme Who Do You Think You Are?
Jill - who started out in Newcastle soap Byker Grove and has gone on to enjoy success in EastEnders and hit musical Chicago - said her name has always brought her attention.
She revealed she was even picked on at school because of it.
"They used to say; `You're Jill Halfpenny. When you grow up will you be Jill One-pound-coin?'
"Another one was `Jill Halfpenny, you're extinct now', because we don't use them anymore.
"That's about it. I always wanted a nickname, or maybe just to be called Halfers, but nobody ever did. I was just plain old Jill. I have no idea where it comes from, but I would love to do that programme Who Do You Think You Are?"
