Meditation helps me focus on playing such a wonderful role like Shelagh
SHELAGH Turner, Laura Main’s character in Call The Midwife, has certainly had her share of challenges and tearjerking storylines – renouncing her vows as a nun after falling in love with Dr Turner, followed by fertility struggles and the journey to adoption.
The hit BBC series’ sensitive and emotion-loaded plots have been immensely rewarding for Laura however, who’s been on the show since its outset in 2012.
The 38-year-old from Aberdeen – who is softly-spoken, selfeffacing and down-to-earth in much the same way as her character – admits she “never dreamt” Call The Midwife would be such a “huge success” and would run for so long.
It was recently confirmed that the show will run until 2022, covering up until 1967 (it was 1957 when it started).
Here, Laura talks about what being part of the series means to her, what she’s learnt along the way, and her wellness regime...
cathartic and also funny. IF she was a real person, I think I’d like her. I can see little bits of her which are like me – she’s quite precise, careful and thoughtful – but I think she’s calmer than me. She copes way better than I ever would with her incredibly busy life, working and bringing up a family.
She’s a wonderful role to play because she’s had such an interesting life. After all this time, she does feel a part of me, although without her hair style and the glasses I rarely get recognised out of work – only sometimes when I speak, because of my Aberdeen accent. May, who’s come into the family. Both girls are bringing each other on. IT was the best year in my acting career. Life was pretty hectic – for a while, it felt like my feet almost didn’t touch the ground, but I absolutely loved it. It was brilliant to have the contrast of Shelagh, who’s a little reserved, while Princess Fiona was very upfront and fun. The only trial was getting off the green make-up! WHETHER you’ve seen it sprinkled on a doughnut or on sale at your local coffee shop, matcha seems to be everywhere right now.
Matcha has been around for centuries and comes from the same plant as green tea. Matcha beverages go through a different farming process though, making them stronger in flavour and caffeine, with a more appealing nutrient profile. So what else makes matcha special?
MATCHA is a rich source of catechins, natural antioxidants that are found in plants. Antioxidants can help to slow the process of ageing by stablising free radicals, compounds that cause damage to cells and can contribute to several diseases.
Unlike green tea, where the leaves are infused in hot water and then discarded, matcha drinkers consume the leaf, giving it a greater kick of antioxidants. One study found that the catechin content in matcha is around 137 times greater than in regular green tea. MATCHA contains caffeine, but thanks to its high L-theanine content, the ‘buzz’ is much more long-lasting and energising. It should give you a pick-me-up without the jitters and subsequent energy slump.
A STUDY last year examined the effect matcha green tea drinks have on metabolic responses during brisk walking for women. The researchers found that if participants consumed three drinks the day before and one drink two hours before a 30-minute brisk walk, matcha enhanced fat burning. PURE Leaf’s Matcha Pure sachets (£5 for 12 sachets, ocado.com) are a fuss-free way of getting in on the trend without having to measure out messy powder. Pour 50ml of boiling water over the contents of one sachet and whisk until it’s dispersed. Then add another 150ml of water and whisk until creamy.
Matcha is a really versatile ingredient. Powdered matcha can been baked into cakes, flavour ice cream, whizzed into smoothies or spooned into pancake batter.