Jo Joyner's children don't know she's an actress.

Jo Joyner

Jo Joyner

The 39-year-old star's six-year-old twins Freddie and Edie, whom she has with her husband Neli Madden, aren't aware of her life on screen and are always really confused when people stop her in the street and ask for photographs.

Speaking to OK! magazine, she said when asked whether her children understand what she does for a living: "They notice it because I get people asking for a photo with me in the street.

"When we walk away, one of them will say, 'Why do they want a picture with you? I don't get it,' and I'll say, 'I don't know darling, I can't explain it either.' "

However, the former 'EastEnders' star isn't bothered her children don't know what her job entails as she really doesn't want them to see her smooching another man on screen.

She explained: "They haven't actually seen much of what I do. They were too young to watch 'EastEnders', there was too much screaming and crying that it would confuse them, and in other shows I kiss men, which I don't want them seeing."

However, the 'Ordinary Lies' beauty is open to the idea of letting them watch her new drama 'Mount Pleasant', in which she plays newcomer Jane, because it's more light-hearted.

She said: "I might let them watch 'Mount Pleasant'."

And, although she loves her job, Jo is selective of what she takes on because she doesn't like to be away from her twins.

She said: "My kids are still young so I try to not spend too much time away. Ten days has been my biggest stretch so far. There are only so many six-day weeks being away from home you can do before your family start getting fed up."