Elaine Claxton: Actor Elaine Claxton is a familiar face from TV, well-known for her roles in Wire in the Blood and Bad Girls . Throughout her career, she has done a lot of television, theatre and radio drama but says that even with her experience, finding acting work is just as difficult and erratic as ever. Her reactions to the vagaries of her professional life also haven't changed much: she is just as elated when she gets a role and just as depressed during dry spells. In Beasts and Beauties , Elaine's performance in 'The Juniper Tree' is truly memorable. She plays the evil stepmother who chops her stepson's head off, proceeds to make a stew out of him, and then serves the stew to his unsuspecting father. Elaine says that this type of role is not typical for her: because she is small in stature, she usually gets what she calls listening parts rather than pro-active ones. But in 'The Juniper Tree' she gets to play a killer, wield a meat-cleaver, become a demonic cook, and go mad - all within ten minutes! | 
