It was in India that I started my acting career, courtesy of my parents, long before I set foot on stage in England. They headed a company of travelling players performing Shakespeare up and down the land.

It's nice not to have lines when you frown, especially on TV. I don't know why people make such a fuss about it. No one is interested if a woman has her teeth capped or her hair dyed.

For me, compatibility is a sense of humour, being able to laugh together; that is very important.

I do still get the odd fan letter about The Good Life, clearly written by somebody aged 18, who says: Will you send a photograph? And I think: Maybe it's kinder not to. I'm deeply into my 50s now.

There is the most wonderful thing called Polaris: it's a very high frequency laser treatment that lifts and tightens the skin.

I don't treasure things much - just people. And pets.

So many roles for women demand that you make the audience fall in love with you or sympathise with you.