THE HAPPINESS HACKS THAT ARE KEEPING US POSITIVE

Four celebs on staying upbeat in lockdown

‘Happiness is dancing in the front room at 6am’

Call The Midwife star Helen George says dog walks and dancing with her daughter have been keeping her upbeat

This past year has taught me that happiness is fleeting and you have to appreciate that it comes in small doses. It isn’t always about the big things, the holidays, and planning for the future, it’s about the everyday moments. The cuddles with my three-year-old daughter, Wren, in the morning and last thing at night, and her, my partner, Jack, and I dancing together in the front room to Elton John’s I’m Still Standing or Andy Stewart’s Donald, Where’s Your Troosers?, sometimes at 6am!

Pets are a big source of therapy in times like this.

We have a rescue dog, a Jack Russell called Charlie, and he’s been a blessing, not least because he gives us a reason to leave the house. We’ve been taking him for long walks through Epping Forest and it feels like all the cobwebs get blown away. It’s also a comfort to know that he has no idea what’s going on in the world.

I’ve found podcasts to be a great form of escapism. I’ve just finished the true

crime series The Missing Cryptoqueen and now I’m listening to Death In Ice

Valley. It’s a fascinating tale of murder and intrigue, which might not be the cheeriest of subjects, but I love the way it transports you to a completely different world. I’ve struggled with sleeping, too, so I’ve started listening to short bedtime stories on the Calm app. There’s something reassuring about being put to sleep with a story.

When I’m feeling overwhelmed by things, I turn to exercise.

I’ve been doing the 30-day yoga challenge with Adriene [Mishler] on Youtube and there’s a brilliant personal trainer I follow on Instagram called Cecilia Harris, who I do virtual classes with – everything from pump to dumbbell workouts. She’s a super energetic 49-year-old who has the most astonishing six-pack and I always feel more positive after her sessions. If none of that works though, I’ll order a big fat takeaway pizza dripping in oil, with epic proportions of cheese! That’s my vice.

I feel incredibly lucky we were able to film the new series of Call The Midwife.

The entertainment industry is so crucial to bringing joy to people’s lives and to see that taken away and not looked after properly during the pandemic has been heartbreaking. We’re celebrating the show’s 10th anniversary this year, and we have a really jubilant series in store. It’s 1966, when England won the World Cup, and it’s a very interesting year for my character, Nurse Trixie, both professionally and personally.

Before I got into acting, my first passion was singing and I still find it a great release.

I recently recorded some songs for the new Cinderella musical album, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Emerald Fennell, which was slightly nerve-racking and I was a little rusty, but it was such fun returning to something I love. One of my real pinch-me moments was singing at the Queen’s 92nd birthday celebration a few years ago. I remember being on stage at the Royal Albert Hall with Sir Tom Jones and Sting and thinking, ‘I don’t really know why I’m here!’ That’s a memory I’ll never forget.

The 10th anniversary series of Call The Midwife is coming to BBC One soon

A big fat takeaway pizza… that’s my vice!