JENNY SEAGROVE Things haven’t always worked out as I would have liked
Bristol Old Vic, and made her film debut alongside Jeremy Irons in Moonlighting at 25.
But she suffered bulimia in her 20s, a subject she prefers not to discuss. There was also a shortlived marriage to Indian actor Madhav Sharma. “We knew each other for three years and were married for two before the break-up,” she recalls. “I was terribly dependent on him and it was a complicated relationship. He was like a Svengali and as I had no confidence I leaned on him.”
She also had a four-year relationship with late director Michael Winner. “He never indulged me,” she says. “He would not pussyfoot around. He’d more likely say, ‘You were absolutely terrible. What are you going to do about it?’
“He made me stand on my own two feet and regain my sense of humour. He always said that life was there to be enjoyed and it was not a dress rehearsal. Once you start thinking like that it does change your attitude.”
But she has discovered more happiness with producer Bill Kenwright, 71, who is also chairman of Everton football club. They have been together since 1994. He was briefly married to actress Anouska Hempel and has a daughter, Lucy, with actress Virginia Stride.
Seagrove remains childless and has not come close to marriage again. “I think once one marriage goes wrong it is enough for some people,” she says. “I’m one of those and so is Bill. As for children, I have never been particularly maternal. I was still in my 30s when we met and did discuss it at one point. But I do prefer my lifestyle as it is and the freedom that it gives.
“I regard myself as fortunate to have lived for so long with such a fantastic character with a good heart who sees the best in everyone and is so positive about life.
“It’s such a contrast because, despite the successes I have enjoyed, I remain a shy person. I like to think we have been good for each other and have enjoyed happiness together.”
Kenwright, who produced Another Mother’s Son, is equally open about his support for his partner. He devoted a page of last week’s Everton programme for the Premier League game against West Bromwich Albion to promote the film and Seagrove’s starring role. “I do have to accept, as with any partner of a football fanatic, that Everton is probably the first love in Bill’s life,” she observes. “He loves me, cinema, theatre but, especially, Everton football club.”
But they are now concentrating fully on the launch of Another Mother’s Son, written by another Jenny, Jenny Lecoat, the greatniece of Louisa Gould. “I wanted to play her as truthfully as possible,” says Seagrove. “She was a brave and good woman.
“But there is also the matter of highlighting what happened on the Channel Islands. We know a lot about the Second World War from the D-Day landings to the Battle of Britain but the fact that part of the British Isles was under Nazi rule for five years is often overlooked. This film puts that right.” Another Mother’s Son is released on Friday.