Does that translate as gym-bound bounce? I hate the gym with a vengeance. I have a personal trainer who bullies me into going three times a week, otherwise I’d never set foot inside the place. I tried to persuade my daughter Emily, who’s 17, to come with me to a session, but it didn’t go down very well.

Is your body a temple? No, although I have occasional spurts when I try to be healthy. But I love food too much to be careful about what I eat, especially curry.

Any surprises in your fridge? Eye gel for morning-after eyes, whenever I get those nasty great big puffy ones. And I always have several bottles of sparkling water and tons of fresh fruit and veg because the juicer is in constant use.

So what’s your poison? Cigarettes, and I’m very partial to good wine, both white and red.

Ever tried to give up the smokes? I have tried everything from nicotine patches to acupuncture and hypnotherapy. The first thing I did when I came out of those sessions was to light a cigarette. Smoking is my biggest regret.

Do you pop any pills? Vitamin C, D and E and essential fatty acids every morning.

Your GP or green tea? I’d always go straight to my GP. I haven’t anything against complementary medicine but I’ve not had any need to explore it, apart from several attempts to give up smoking.

Any serious injuries or illnesses? When I was 18 months old I tipped a pan of boiling soup over myself. I spent the next few years, until the age of 5, in and out of hospital having skin grafts. The only remaining scar is on my left arm. It may seem strange, but I love hospitals. I feel very safe in them.

Have you ever tried to camouflage the scar? Never. I can throw a complete wobbly if my hair looks dreadful before I go out, but I don’t even see my arm.

Any other health scares? I’ve had six miscarriages and two ectopic pregnancies (when the fertilised egg starts to grow outside the womb, usually in one of the two Fallopian tubes). I was back at work after the second one within three weeks and that helped me emotionally. But because the ectopic pregnancies happened in the same Fallopian tube, another baby is not impossible. I am fortunate, though, to have Emily.

Did the therapist’s couch help? I’ve never been to a therapist or counsellor. I don’t like the idea of paying somebody to listen to my troubles. I’m lucky that my friends will counsel me until the cows come home.

Are you growing old gracefully? I detest the idea of growing older. It’s partly the health angle, though. I love life too much, so the prospect of one day not being able to do all the things I love is horrible. Appearance-wise, I worry about not getting parts. But I could never think of retiring. I want to do until I drop.

What’s in your vanity case? Moisturiser. I don’t wear much make-up. I can’t bear the stuff.

Would you ever go under the knife? I haven’t and I wouldn’t because it would frighten the life out of me.

Do you exercise your soul? No. I went to a psychic once, but that was just trying something.

Fairy Godmother, please change . . . My boobs. They’re too big; I can’t bear them. But I’m not too uncomfortable with my body.

How do you get your highs? Through my work at the Artists’ Theatre School for children and adults, which I co-founded 11 years ago, in Ealing, West London.

The second series of New Tricks is on BBC One on Mondays at 9pm

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