Michelle Keegan proud to have inspired women to join army

For the last four years Michelle Keegan has won a legion of fans playing army officer Georgie Lane in BBC’s Our Girl.

As the fourth series of the soldier drama gets ready to air this week, the Coronation Street star has opened up about her fan mail and revealed she feels honoured to have become a role model to a new generation of female soldiers.

The actress made the revelation in an interview with OK! magazine, saying “I’ve had letters and... a lot of DMs from people saying, ‘You’ve inspired me or my sister to join the army.’”

But with Keegan leaving the show at the end of this season, young women will need to look elsewhere for inspiration. Keegan announced that this would be her last season earlier this year.

She told OK! “I’ve done four series and it’s just me saying I want to explore other opportunities, that’s it. I’ve loved the show so much. This show has helped me grow into the person I am.”

Read more: Michelle Keegan quits Our Girl after four years of filming overseas

The actress admitted it had been a “very hard” decision to make, adding that she’d had an “amazing time” on the show and was “very lucky” to have had the opportunity.

Keegan, who is married to reality TV star, Mark Wright, first made her name as Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street. More recently she has raised eyebrows in her role as Erin in hit Sky1 comedy drama Brassic, which returns for a second season in May.

It’s not clear yet, who will replace Keegan yet in the incredibly popular soldier drama but the actress does have some words of advice for whoever steps into her shoes.

“Just go for it,” she said. “I was really intimidated when I first started.”

“But I think you just have to throw yourself into this role, and I think when you do that, you really start enjoying it.”

Read more: Michelle Keegan offers advice to potential Our Girl replacement

Our Girl returns to BBC One on Tuesday, 24 March.