Shona McGarty 'always wanted' midwife job

Shona McGarty has "always wanted" to be a midwife.

The \'EastEnders\' star - who plays Whitney Dean on the BBC One soap - admitted if she hadn\'t turned her hand to acting she could now be helping women deliver their babies, because she has had a lifelong passion for midwifery.

She said: "I\'ve always wanted to be a midwife.

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"I was there when my best friend had her little girl, and I was in the delivery room when my sister had her second little boy.

"I loved it. It was amazing; I think women are incredible.

"Plus, if someone was to suddenly go into labour, I\'d know what to do."

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The 28-year-old actress - who has starred as Whitney for 12 years - admitted she would love for her character to be part of a cross-over \'Emmerdale\' episode one day, but perhaps not in the winter time.

When asked what other soap she would take Whitney to, she said: "My loyalty is with \'EastEnders\', but if I could, I\'d take Whitney to \'Emmerdale\'.

"I watch all the soaps, and have done for years, and I think \'Emmerdale\' always has really good storylines.

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"It would be freezing up there in the winter, though."

And as well as midwifery, Shona wouldn\'t mind mucking in on a farm one day, because she loves animals so much.

Speaking to Inside Soap magazine, she added: "I\'d like to work on a farm, actually. I love animals, I used to go to the farm a lot when I was little, and I really love that sort of thing."