Fay Ripley: ‘I’ve become an SAS mum’
Cold Feet star Fay Ripley talks about the joys of food, why she has such a strong work ethic, and the perils of parenting a teenager…
Actress and food writer Fay Ripley, 51, is familar to most of us as Jenny Gifford in Cold Feet, the role she’s reprised after an almost 20-year break. Living in north London with her handsome Australian actor husband, Muriel’s
Wedding star Daniel Lapaine, 45, and the couple’s two children, Parker, 14, and Sonny, 10, Fay is warm, more than a little feisty, and a natural comedian – not unlike the funny onscreen character we know and love.
Hi, Fay. Congratulations on the return of Cold Feet…
Oh, thank you. We’ve just started filming again up in Manchester. Just today, three people stopped me to say things like, ‘Me and my husband were just dating when this show started, and now we have kids…’ Everyone seems to have a story about the show. And I love that we have new characters now, like Jim Nesbitt’s son, played by Ceallach Spellman. To be honest, I’m just grateful when anyone under the age of 30 even talks to me!
But how do you feel when filming in Manchester takes you away from your own family?
That’s the biggest challenge I have. I’ve always made decisions based on whether they’ll make me happy. Being with my family makes me happy, which means I have to manage my time very carefully. As the saying goes, you’re only as happy as your unhappiest child. That’s absolutely true. But I love Cold Feet – that makes me happy, too.
What’s the plan after filming finishes?
Cold Feet will take me up to the summer, then I’ll be escaping to the sun with my family. We’re bringing my mum, too. For the first time ever, I’ve actually gone and booked us a one-week holiday! Generally, actors can’t really book a holiday more than a few days in advance, but I’ve booked a villa in Majorca. And you know what? We’re going if it kills me!
You’re involved in this year’s Red Nose Day, aren’t you?
Yes. How can you say no to helping people who are living in tough conditions in Britain and Africa? It was an easy ask. Some celebs, including myself, had aprons designed and then got our photos taken. I don’t really like pictures of myself, but these efforts were better than my attempts at a selfie!
Did turning 50 last year change your perspective on life at all?
Firstly, how very dare you… I’m joking! No, I’m simply not focused on age. I just went,
‘ Yeah, OK.’ Maybe in 10 years that’ll change – who knows? Birthdays ceased to be a huge thing for me years ago. My grandmother bent the truth about her age considerably, and I think it ultimately ruined her life. It’s a rocky road.
How did your parents influence you growing up?
Well, Dad gave me a strong work ethic. He was an ‘entrepreneur’. I still don’t know what he did – he could have been an arms dealer, although I’m hoping not. He was a wealthy man, but he didn’t buy me a flat or give me an allowance. I put myself through drama school. As a result, I feel I’ve really earned what I have. Mind you, I don’t feel I’m doing such a great job with my own kids – when they look at me with their big eyes, I go, ‘Oh, darling, you want the trainers? OK…’
Your daughter, Parker, is 14 now. Is it tricky dealing with a teenager?
I’ve realised that my parenting needs to change. From 14 to 18, forget the food and the hygiene. They can be rude, leave their room messy… they just need to be alive, and you need to keep them that way. There’s a list of things that could hurt them – drink, drugs, heartache, fighting, being alone, getting home late, driving for the first time. I’ve become sort of an SAS mum to cope with it all. My boy, Sonny, is 10, so he isn’t at that stage yet, but when he gets there, I’ll get my balaclava on again and say, ‘OK, we’re going in!’
You’ve been married to Daniel since 2001. Why does the relationship work?
Well, as well as being married, we’re parents – we became so just over a year after our wedding – and I suspect the success of our relationship might be because we parent on the same page. For lots of my friends, parenting is what they spend their days arguing about, whereas we were lucky that way. Oh, and he’s gorgeous – that helps…