Poldark actress Eleanor Tomlinson is already booking a holiday in Cornwall as she plans for life after being Demelza.

She was only 21 when she started filming what would become a TV phenomenon and last night in Cornwall actress Eleanor Tomlinson said farewell to Demelza Poldark for the final time at the age of 27.

The actress, who has become a national treasure for her portrayal of the feisty red-haired heroine in BBC One's adaptation of Winston Graham's Poldark novels, was in Redruth for the premiere of the first episode of the fifth and final series.

Hundreds of people crowded the street around the Regal cinema to catch a glimpse of Eleanor and other stars from the series including Jack Farthing (George Warleggan) and Luke Norris (Dr Dwight Enys).

I have to admit to causing a bit of Poldark hysteria when Eleanor, looking resplendent in a sleek black dress, entered a room set aside for press interviews. I shouted down to the fans that she was in the building and they responded with screams of "Eleanor!"

Beaming, she lent out of the first floor window to wave and take pictures of the crowd - 300 of whom had won tickets to see the premiere. Unbelievably, almost 10,000 fans entered the ballot to be at the screening.

Eleanor Tomlinson, who plays Demelza, in Poldark

I last chatted to Eleanor in 2014 before the premiere of the first ever episode of Poldark in Truro. Then she didn’t know what to expect, but five years on she's a global star.

She said of last night's premiere: "It's wonderful because so many people have turned out. I'm very humbled by it. I can't quite believe they're still here five years on.

"It's so rare these day for a programme to make five series. TV is becoming more popular but when you start off making something it's always the dream to be in a long-running series but then to actually realise it is quite something."

Surely it's not really the last series?

"It is the last series but it's also the beginning of a new adventure. Instead of seeing it as the end of something, I'm seeing it as the beginning of something.

"Everyone I love in it and the experiences I've had from it I'm taking with me. Even my make-up artist who has done my make-up for five years, she did it tonight, she's one of my best friends.

What does the future hold post-Demelza?

Seven babies were named Demelza in the South West

 

"I've Just finished filming a comedy with Jack Farthing actually, called Love, Wedding, Repeat, and I'm starting a TV series as well but I'm not allowed to talk about that one.

"It's an exciting time - suddenly I'm out of a contract and free to choose. As an actor that's always your worry, what's your next job going to be. You can choose to spend your life worrying about that or you can choose to realise how lucky you've been and take it by the horns."

Her love of Cornwall is certainly not going to dissipate now she's stopped making Poldark.

She told me: "I'm so happy to be back in Cornwall. I've got so many favourite Cornish spots, my goodness, there's so many but for me I love the rural places like Bodmin Moor but then also places like Charlestown , so beautiful, and having fans watching us film there is always so great.

"I recently discovered this website called Unique Homestays with beautiful, idyllic cottages and one of them is actually a mine you can rent for a weekend … I'm definitely going to work my way around because most of them are in Cornwall."

She added: "I'd never been here before filming Poldark and now I feel I spent so much time during an important part of my life here that it will always have a fond place in my heart."

I told Eleanor we've slept in the same bed (not at the same time, I hasten to add) at Gwel an Mor in Portreath, which she used as a base while filming earlier series.

"There's a plaque there now - that's so funny."

She's well aware of the Poldark effect on the county.

"It's wonderful to see what the series has done for Cornwall, for tourism and bringing people here."

It's all going to die now Poldark is finishing, isn't it?

"No, it's all going to get better! People are visiting more now and who knows if we'll come back."

It's bound to in a few years, surely?

"I hope so - we need a few years to age."

I told Eleanor about the new agency Screen Cornwall, which aims to build on the legacy of Cornish-made successes like Poldark to build a powerful TV and film base in the county.

"If we can take any credit for that, it's a real honour. Cornwall deserves it as it's a place of creativity and has some brilliant film-makers."

What happens to Demelza in Series 5, which is due to screen in mid-July?

Hugh and Demelza

 

"We have so many new characters in the series and social and status situations but also dealing with Ross as usual, so there's always something new that Demelza has to deal with.

"I haven't seen any of it so tonight will be the first time that I've seen Episode One."

You don't die in the last episode, do you?

"Ooh … I don't know … spoiler," she joked. "You'll have to wait and see."

This series is slightly different as writer Debbie Horsfield has had to adapt Winston Graham books set much later while introducing new material and characters. How has that worked?

Eleanor said: "It's between the books - there was a ten-year time gap so she's taken events that happened in later books and adapted other things - nothing happens that doesn't happen later on, but at the same time we've been able to explore more of Ross and Demelza's lives together because otherwise there's a huge gap.

"Things like their kids growing up - it's lovely to see them so invested in their family. The kids are now significantly bigger than they were and they have proper parts now. I adored working with them - I actually feel like they were my children."

After playing her for five years, how has Demelza impacted on Eleanor?

Aidan Turner, as Ross Poldark, had every reason to be eye Demelza, played by Eleanor Tomlinson, suspiciously in series three, which has just ended
Aidan Turner, as Ross Poldark, had every reason to eye Demelza, played by Eleanor Tomlinson, suspiciously in series three, which has just ended

 

"She a character that has broadened my horizons mentally. I think she's got incredible strength and I so admire the character and to be able to play her has taught me a lot about myself. I feel I'm not really letting go of her."

With that Eleanor - even more beautiful in real life as she is on screen - met her adoring Poldark fans. Perhaps for the final time…