Ashes star Keeley admits perm problem

Keeley Hawes has revealed how she was almost snubbed by John Simm - because of her Eighties perm.

The former Spooks actress is the leading lady in Ashes To Ashes, the sequel to successful BBC cop drama Life On Mars, in which John starred.

But when she tried to approach him for tips, he didn't recognise her with her dated hairstyle.

Keeley revealed: "I went to see a play one night, and my hair was still in Alex's perm. I saw John and waved over, but he just gave me a funny look, he must have thought, 'Who's that loony?'.

"Thankfully, he realised it was me and we chatted and it was really nice.

"It was great to meet someone who knew what it was like, and he had been through it too. I'm in pretty much every scene of Ashes, and was in for every day of filming, as was John on Life On Mars.

"When we got talking, we were like survivors of a crash or something. It was really good to see him, and he was very sweet about everyone here too."

The 31-year-old actress plays posh psychological profiler DI Alex Drake who is transported back in time to 1981 and must work with gruff DCI Gene Hunt, played by Philip Glenister.