Torchwood A quick chat with Torchwood star Eve Myles

The new series of Torchwood, Miracle Day, has brought some major changes, not least a move to America and a slew of big-budget action scenes. As always, at the centre of the drama alongside Captain Jack (John Barowman) is kick-ass former cop Gwen Cooper, played by Eve Myles.

TV&Satellite Week magazine caught up with the 33-year-old to find out what it was like taking Torchwood (BBC1, Thursday) to Hollywood...

This series is so much bigger than the last one... The first day we used three jumbo jets, then we had two helicopters. The other day I blew up a car. On the last series, Children of Earth, our helicopter was a transit van and a wind machine.

We may or may not lose key characters this series... The BBC would have my guts for garters if I told you. But I cannot say strongly enough that the people you think are the safest might be the most at risk.

You have to be fit for Torchwood.. . I had to run for about two hours for one particular shot, so I train five nights a week. My baby daughter also keeps me very fit. She’s a whippet.

I love the fact that Gwen has a family... Her mum and dad have a lot to do with the story arc. Being a mum also gives a different aspect to Gwen. She realises that every time she goes out the door, she may not return.

Gwen is beyond cool and brave... I, on the other hand, am a complete wimp. Rude people in restaurants terrify me. I’m dreadful at confrontation. I’ll do anything for a quiet life.

I moved to LA while we filmed Torchwood... We were living underneath the Hollywood sign on the side of the Hollywood hill - me, my daughter, my partner, my dog and about 50 coyotes in the field next to us.

I came nose-to-nose with a coyote while jogging... All I had on me was a tangerine, so I threw it and ran in the opposite direction, crying. Gwen would have run over and punched it in the face.

John Barrowman and I got up to a lot of fun on set... We did things like stealing golf buggies and going round the studio, beeping their horns - just having fun.

John also likes to prank me... We were filming in the desert in California and he hid in my trailer shower. I kept having conversations with people outside, so he was in there for about 45 minutes, getting cramp. When it came to jumping out at me and screaming like a banshee, he was sweating and looked a bit ill.