I’ll never forget meeting a drug addict in prison, what she told me will stay with me forever says Time’s Bella Ramsey

TIME'S Bella Ramsey has opened up about the lasting impact meeting a drug addict in prison has had on her.

The 20-year-old stars alongside Jodie Whittaker and Tamara Lawrance in the second series of the acclaimed BBC show.

While the first series was set in a men's prison and starred Stephen Graham and Sean Bean, the new series follows the lives of inmates at a women's prison.

Bella plays Kelsey, a young heroin addict who is presented with a life-defining decision.

As part of her research and preparation for the difficult role, Bella visited a prison and was able to chat with inmates.

She said: "I was keen to do research for this. I talked with somebody who was about to be released in five weeks – she'd been in and out of prisons since she was 15 and was addicted to cocaine and alcohol.

"Although her story was different, hearing her talk about addiction and how it feels in your body was really helpful for me.

"It was amazing that she was so open and shared with me – I don't think I'll ever forget going there and hearing her story."

She continued: "She said something that I carry with me, especially into the scenes where Kelsey is really struggling and really needs the drugs.

"She said that you feel addiction everywhere in your body – if you want the hit and the whole of your body wants it, it's almost like electricity coursing through you."

Bella also spoke about how gruelling filming could be at times, and that the support from her co-stars and the crew was crucial.

She said: "There have been a lot of traumatic scenes on this and they stick in my mind because of how gruelling they were, but also how supported and safe I felt during all that.

"With the bigger, more physical scenes, it's much easier to snap in and out of because you have so much adrenaline. But with the more quiet and introspective, ones, I really tried to stay in a bit more."

Time series two begins on Sunday, October 29 at 9pm on BBC One, while series one is available now on BBC iPlayer.