Though
she looks terrific at the age of 51, the former small-screen sex
siren from Eighties soap hits Dynasty and The Colbys
is finding the going tough. And being a gran for the first time
- her actress daughter Phoebe gave birth to a son, Jude, three
months ago - has convinced her that she should lose at least a
stone in weight.
Have
you always been your ideal weight?
Motherhood,
now over 25 years ago, seemed to steady my weight. It shot up an
astonishing 42lbs and I was, briefly, gigantic. That made me
realise that I much preferred to stay slim.
How do
you keep in shape?
Housework
rather than the gym. When I lived full time in California, I
loved walking the canyons off the Pacific Coast Highway in
Malibu. The scenery is so gorgeous that I hardly noticed the
fatigue. I find it harder to keep fit in London. Swimming is
good and low impact, but chlorine turns my hair a weird green
colour. At the moment I am looking for a good yoga class.
When
did you last exercise?
Today,
like every day, I was out of that front door into the park for a
swift walk to Hyde Park. It really loosens me up and makes me
feel good before I go on stage.
How
does your lifestyle affect your health?
Adversely,
usually! This play I am in is set in 1800, so I am wearing a
tight corset and therefore cannot eat at all before the show.
Eating late after the theatre is so bad for you as well. After a
few weeks of a stage run I turn into Dracula's daughter and I'm
up all night and want to sleep all day.
What
area of your health causes you the most worry?
Nine
months ago I gave up smoking, finally I hope, after 35 years,
mainly because I was to become a granny. I have always described
smoking as an eating disorder and the last nine months have
proved me right. Before, I only knew a meal was over when I lit
up.
