Liverpool Echo from Liverpool, Merseyside, England • 18

18 Liverpool Echo, Tuesday, July 27, 1999 WOMAN extra 1 a 1 1 NI 1 ii. I I lp Ili 1r a 0 rt 1 I Ps 1 4---- I a Th I 111 Fashion with .1 26. attitude but -511 10 it ss all show for soap bad lad WITH his bad lad reputation and close-cropped moody look, Hollyoaks' Sol Patrick is quite a handful. But, minus the character's clothes and attitude, actor Paul Danan insists he's an altogether warmer prospect. Relaxed and posing for Woman Extra fashion photos, the 21-year-old actor nominated as this year's best actor and i sexiest man in soap is all smiles and I Cockney-accented charm.

I 1 7 "Sol stresses too much," he says, "but I'm more cool and chilled, more of a loving 4.. person." 1, I to Paul is a graduate of London's famous i Italia Conti drama school, where he shared classes with Big Breakfast presenter Kelly Vir 1 Brook and actresses Natasha Symms and Danielle Brent who play his two Hollyoaks lir 5. sisters. He now lives in a shared house in Liverpool 11111111 al i N' o4 with Natasha and Danielle, having moved ti 01 111' from his Essex home when he landed his --A 4 soap job two years ago. 04 Getting the role thrust him into the limelight and, he says, he appreciates his big 111 break.

he rotge sttionmgaoanyrdaadctoarswaoyutothy theere aadnodrinnogt much work all the time, it's very hard, so I think I'm really lucky to have this," he says. N. ii 4. Hearthrob Since he was introduced into Hollyoaks, 11110- 110 61111 at Paul has been consistently labelled as the hearthrob. It's won him an army fans, but girls.

'IF "The attention can go to your head," he accepts, "but I've always said to myself I've got to keep my feet on the ground and my 4 1 OPI-300. would never let me get like that. ark I 0. "I've got such a strong relationship with 3 A them and with my boys, all my friends, they would kill me if I was to get big headed. '11? "At the end of the day it's just a job, you're 11 exactly the same as everyone else." All the letters which arrive at Mersey TV do 9.: give him a confidence lift, although he laughs i with embarrassment when quizzed over what 11 1 41 4.

the fans say. pl' "Girls do offer things," he says, cryptically. 4, i i "They go crazy, but you've got to be 1 professional. I wouldn't really want to date a fan because me and Sol are two separate illigaiit, 1,. 4 1 people, but reading some of the letters really i 4 3 brings me back up if I'm feeling down.

a 11111 7 erhi otr .511 "There's such positivity in them. They're constantly telling you what a great actor you Main picture and top: black Beckham 4 0 are and that you're so sexy, it's such a boost. top by trousers by If the job's getting to you, you think 'oh well, Trousers, ..4 at least people want Above centre: Umeheus navy waxed One person who definitely wants Paul is his linen suit with patch pockets, £195 in 1 41 new girlfriend. They met at this year's sets; short sleeved stretch top by Six i s. i Glastonbury festival.

Eight semi filx £29.99. Aqh ft 4 "She didn't have a clue who I was when we Above: Umehsue navy stretch 1, 111 met which was brilliant. When she found out two-tors shirt, 0111.99 in sale; grey .1 44 it wasn't a big deal and that's what I wanted. trousers by Six BgM Seven Six, £69.99 "I wanted someone who wants me for me hi i and not for what I do." All clothes courtesy of Drome Men in 44. ir Cavern Walks (0151 255 1565) Dawn Collinson is.