PORTRAYING a rapist in one of television's most popular drama series was a role actor Dominic Taylor did not relish.

The actor appeared as the evil fire officer Sean Lynch in London's Burning, and although it gave him great exposure, he is unequivocal about his feelings on appearing in the programme.

"I hated it. I really did not want to play the role of a rapist. It was a miserable time."

But the actor, who has also appeared in Eastenders as Nick Holland, accepts the reaction he got from the public was far from nasty.

He said: "It was usually humorous. You hear these horror stories, but they never happened to me. I never got a seriously bad reaction.

"Although I do remember once being a little worried. I was walking close to my home in South London when a van shrieked to a halt alongside me. The door opened and there were two big guys inside. One put his shoulder out of the door and shouted over to me. I thought 'oh no, here we go' and took a couple of steps back.

"But the man then yelled out 'Oi, you are a good actor', and drove off!

"It was amazing just how many people watched London's Burning. And of course when I was in Eastenders the reaction was even greater. People felt almost as though you were a part of their family."

Dominic should have no qualms about the good character of his next role.

He is set to star in a touring production of Jane Austen's Emma, appearing as Mr Knightly, which visits Manchester next week. But, he admits, before reading the classic work he was not a fan of the celebrated author.

Dominic explained: "I have been surprised by it. The only thing I used to associate with Jane Austen was trying to find something else to do on a Sunday night while my girlfriend watched Pride and Prejudice.

"That was the depths of my ignorance.

"Yet, when I read the book Emma I was amazed how radical a writer she really was. It was an eye opener to see just how incredibly witty she was, and just what an insight her novels give into what people are like.

"We initially went on tour with the play last year and I was blown away when we opened by the response of the audience. There was so much laughter from the very first scene. People do not think of Jane Austen as being very funny, but her writing does show how silly people can be.

"We remain faithful to the book, but the characters are naturally funny and audiences have a very good time.

"I wondered how it would take to being on the stage, but this company has a lot of experience and the story is in safe hands. Even the Jane Austen Society has been very enthusiastic."

Dominic grew up in Surrey and his parents were from Liverpool. His family was also based in Manchester for a while. But he was born in Hollywood! So it was only natural that he became an actor.

He said: "I did always want to be an actor. I think somebody laughed or clapped me when I danced to Slade or something when I was little, and that was that."

Dominic trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and has since worked in just about every medium -- theatre, film, radio and television.

He said: "I like the variety. I have two boys so television can be easier for me, when I am based in London. Touring can be complicated."

His next project is yet another departure for him. He said: "I want to direct a production of MacBeth in London. It is a play I know and love. It will be my first time directing and I am going to play MacBeth as well. I have a lot of ideas and it is certain to be an interesting challenge."