WHAT a difference a decade makes!

Ten years ago 11-year-old Radcliffe actress Jane Danson was just breaking into television with an appearance in Alan Bleasdale's drama, GBH.

And as her mother, Lynn, told us at the time: "She wants to be an actress and when she does things she puts her heart and soul into it."

It was certainly true because since then Jane, a former pupil of St Andrew's CE Primary School and Radcliffe High School, went on to play troublesome Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street and became a household name.

But after three years in the role she decided to take a gamble and leave the hit soap for pastures new.

And it was a gamble that paid off because Jane (21) has now landed a job in the hit medical drama A&E, starring alongside Martin Shaw and Niamh Cusack. She will play Nurse Practitioner Samantha Docherty.

"My new character in A&E is so far removed from Leanne I couldn't have wished for a better challenge coming out of the Street," said Jane.

"I feel like a bit of a Granada graduate. Prior to Corrie I worked on the period series The Grand with Susan Hampshire and before that Children's Ward. I'll be forever grateful for the breaks the company has given me."

She added: "I'm really looking forward to playing Sam and joining the cast of A&E. I've watched it avidly and I just can't wait to get stuck in.

"I've got the best of both worlds too, because A&E is made in Manchester so I'll still be able to see all my friends from Corrie."