My Life In Lockdown: Walking Dead actress Pollyanna McIntosh talks painting murals, and dance classes on Instagram

Pollyanna, who plays Jadis/Anne in The Walking Dead, also appeared alongside James McAvoy in the big-screen adaptation of Irvine Welsh's Filth and stars in the BBC political comedy, Bob Servant Independent.

The 41-year-old, whose feature debut as writer-director, Darlin‘, had its world premiere at SXSW 2019, is a passionate campaigner for Edinburgh-based charity the Joshua Nolan Foundation, who provide free counselling for those who need it.

In the latest in our exclusive series - with more famous names to come - the Evening News caught up with Pollyanna to find out how she is coping under lockdown.

What is the best thing about lockdown?

Personally, taking stock and relearning patience and boundaries.

What is the worst?

Feeling so distanced from my family including my little sister who is about to give birth. And re-learning patience and boundaries.

Have you been more creative during lockdown?

I found the first chunk of lockdown to be a "permission slip" for me to be more creative in ways that weren't work related (I can't act to my dogs alone, they're terrible critics). I knew doing this would help my mind which felt overwhelmed at the injustices so prevalent everywhere and feeling unable to help more.

I painted a bright floral mural on the garden fence and then found other household improvement ways to make art. Then I began drawing more in general, just for drawing's sake, now with extra permission to do a crap job of it and not judge myself, which is freeing.

After a while, I socially distanced with my neighbour's kids and we painted weird planets on cardboard and hung them up in trees for folks to see as they passed by.

What’s your exercise routine?

I really enjoy choreographer Ryan Heffington's dance classes on Instagram. He's wild and free and goofy, easy to follow along with and they're good and tiring too.

My dear friend Jillian Szafranski has a donation-based yoga class, too, which I love as her knowledge and empathy are really strong and she makes it fun, inclusive and easy to comprehend.

What's the first thing you plan to do when the restrictions are lifted?

I'm probably going to stay restricted for a bit longer after the restrictions are lifted as I have elderly friends I'd like to see sooner rather than later and a new little niece to meet.

But once the all clear happens I'm just really really looking forward to a hug.

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