'DEATH IN PARADISE' STAR SHANTOL JACKSON

ON MAKING HER DAD PROUD, LOOKING FOR LOVE AND A SURPRISE ROYAL ENCOUNTER

Playful and vibrant as she strikes a series of dramatic poses for the camera, actress Shantol Jackson is clearly loving every minute of her exclusive photoshoot for HELLO!.

Despite declaring herself "not a fashionista at all", the Death in Paradise star looks a complete natural as she models a selection of cool and colourful designs.

"I have very little fashion sense, so I get people I trust to do this," says Shantol, 31, adding that the shoot has been the highlight of her stay in London, where the star born and based in Jamaica - has been promoting the new series of the hit BBC show she's been part of for three years. "I love London. I call it my 'second city'," she says.

Although it was Death in Paradise's costume designer Lisa Phillips-Dodsworth who sparked the actress's interest in fashion and bright colours - "she's really good at finding things that fit my skin tone and pays so much respect to my culture", Shantol says she was equally happy wearing the uniform of a police officer before her character was promoted to the rank of detective sergeant.

"I won't lie, I did love my uniform," she says with a laugh.

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Shantol landed the part as intuitive police officer Naomi Thomas in the show, which is filmed on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, in 2021 but securing the role wasn't all plain sailing.

"I auditioned a year after getting my agent and I didn't get the job, she says. "They said: 'We really like your tape; you're just not the right fit for this particular role.

"At the time, I couldn't understand it, so I cried. My manager in Jamaica got so excited and then it didn't happen. I was so disappointed.

"Then, a few years later, my agent said: 'So you remember that audition you did for Death in Paradise? They think they have a role that's good for you now.' I said: 'What?!"