Newsletter May 2007

I have come out of hiding this month for a brief sojourn with the newspapers. Wasn’t too sure about this or how to approach it. Of course they all try to tempt you with offers of loadsa money, some less tempting than others. I decided to do two publications, one upmarket, The Times and one middle market, The Express to celebrate my anniversaries year. The Times interview was with a really sweet and charming young man, the acting arts editor, Tim Teeman. I was very relaxed and in a good mood which is a real change for me. I wish all interviews were as painless. I chose to do the photo spread and live CD offer with The Express because they were the first national paper to ‘discover’ me way back when and it felt right. I even agreed to photos - a cause of major upheaval in the past.

I booked my hairdresser in the morning of the shoot. On the way there I passed a shop, popped in, bought three outfits without trying them on, and then sauntered back to my office to meet the make-up artist, Carol Hart, who is familiar with every nook and cranny of both my visage and décolletage. It all seemed so casual and normal. A driver chauffeured me and Tony to the studio, where a tall, slim, young TV director and his film crew fell over each other to introduce themselves. I was presented with an ice cool beer and a sober cameraman. Perfect. Even the outfits fitted. Can this really be true? I kept asking myself. Is this what happens when you are 60? It all becomes easy?

I had a warm-up first, doing a studio interview for a BBC documentary with the tall, slim TV director, yet another sweet young man (the world seems to be full of them nowadays, perhaps it’s my age!) who was really up on his subject. I cannot begin to tell you how unusual this is. It was very open and comfortable. I think I probably said more than I should – but then again, who cares at my time of life?

I had requested a special ‘egg’ chair to be hired for the photos. And there it was, hanging cutely when I entered the magic circle of photographic light with the Daily Express photographer, Mark Kehoe. Not so young and sweet but cuddly and friendly all the same. I did my usual, he clicked away and it was done – no fuss, no pain, no casualties. Being an ordinary star diva for a day is an extraordinary experience. I could do this for a living. ….

Ho hum back to reality, I thought thankfully, as I was dropped off at The Clinic.