OUR LITTLE INDULGENCES

From lazing in front of the TV to being by the sea, four famous faces share the things that bring comfort to their lives…

FOUR FAMOUS FACES SHARE THE THINGS THAT BRING COMFORT TO THEIR LIVES

Lesley sharp, 56, lives in london with her husband and their two grown-up children.

ICE CREAM, THAT’S WHAT INDULGENCE MEANS TO ME. I’M A SUCKER FOR SALTED CARAMEL. BUT WHEN I WANT TO RELAX I WATCH The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I’M FASCINATED BY THEIR LIVES AND ENORMOUS HOUSES. IT’S PURE ESCAPISM. THE WOMEN APPEAR TO DO NOTHING BUT TOTTER ABOUT IN HIGH HEELS, DRINK ROSÉ AND GET ON PRIVATE JETS. BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT I’D BE AT A COMPLETE LOSS LIVING THAT LIFE WHERE EVERYTHING IS DONE FOR YOU BECAUSE I REALLY ENJOY TIDYING CUPBOARDS AND THROWING STUFF OUT. THERE’S NOTHING I LOVE MORE THAN A GOOD SORT OUT.

I’VE GOT FRIENDS MADE THROUGH WORK, BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT ARE THE FRIENDS I COME HOME TO. NOT BEING AROUND FOR THEM IS SOMETHING I FIND TOUGH WHEN I HAVE TO GO AWAY FOR FOUR MONTHS TO SHOOT A SERIES. IT TAKES REALLY DECENT PALS TO PUT UP WITH THE FACT THAT I DISAPPEAR AND THEN SUDDENLY TURN UP AGAIN AND GO “HI, FANCY A DOG WALK?”

FRIENDSHIPS BECOME MORE IMPORTANT AS YOU GET OLDER. BEING IN YOUR FIFTIES CAN BE AN UNSETTLING TIME WATCHING THE WAY YOU AGE. YOUR SELF-ESTEEM GOES UP AND DOWN AND IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT WITH OTHER WOMEN.

MY SECRET SUPERPOWER IS GOING INTO A ROOM AND KNOWING WHERE THE FURNITURE SHOULD GO. I’LL REARRANGE FURNITURE IN A HOTEL ROOM AND STRAIGHT AWAY IT LOOKS AND FEELS BETTER. I COULDN’T TELL YOU WHY BUT I JUST KNOW IT WORKS.

YOU CAN’T BEAT HAVING YOUR OWN BEDDING WHEN YOU’RE LIVING AWAY FROM HOME. DURING THE FILMING OF Scott & Bailey SURANNE JONES AND I WERE STAYING IN AN APARTMENT BLOCK IN MANCHESTER AND BOTH OF US HAULED UP OUR OWN DUVETS, SHEETS AND PILLOWCASES. WHEN YOU’RE GETTING UP AT 5AM AND NOT GETTING BACK UNTIL 8PM, IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE TO GET INTO A BED THAT FEELS LIKE HOME.

THERE’S A LOT OF HAPPINESS TO BE FOUND IN THE EVERYDAY MINUTIAE OF LIFE. FOR EXAMPLE, HAVING A QUICK CUP OF TEA WITH A FRIEND – THEY’RE THE TRULY WONDERFUL MOMENTS. IT’S SO TRUE. BUT YOU DON’T REALISE IT UNTIL THEY’RE TAKEN AWAY – WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS ILL, SOME TERRIBLE THING HAPPENS TO A FRIEND, OR YOU LOSE A PARENT.

I LOVE FASHION. I LOVE THE IDEA OF A LIFE WEARING VICTORIA BECKHAM OR STELLA MCCARTNEY. UNFORTUNATELY THE LIFE I LIVE IS A LIFE WHICH IS ABOUT PULLING ON JEANS AND A JUMPER AND WALKING THE DOGS – WE’VE GOT TWO BORDER TERRIERS. ACTUALLY THE ITEMS I GET MOST PLEASURE FROM HAVEN’T BEEN DESIGNER BUT VINTAGE. I’VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL GREEN 1920S ROBE THAT WORKS OVER A DRESS OR A SWIMSUIT OR AS A DRESSING GOWN AND IT ALWAYS FEELS RIGHT.

MAKING Scott & Bailey WAS BRILLIANT. [THE SERIES ABOUT TWO FEMALE DETECTIVES RAN FOR FIVE SERIES BEFORE FINISHING IN APRIL.] I LOVED WORKING WITH SURANNE [JONES, WHO PLAYED DC RACHEL BAILEY] AND AMELIA [BULLMORE, WHO PLAYED THEIR BOSS DCI GILL MURRAY]. A LOT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CREW BECAME FRIENDS, NOT JUST COLLEAGUES. ON DAYS WHEN THE GOING WAS TOUGH THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMEONE TO LAUGH WITH. BECAUSE WE DID MORE THAN ONE SERIES, WE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD UP RELATIONSHIPS.

MY HAPPY PLACE IS BY THE WATER – A RIVER, THE SEA OR A BEAUTIFUL SWIMMING POOL. I FIND SWIMMING OUTDOORS INCREDIBLY CALMING. IN MY MIND THE SUN WILL BE SHINING, I’LL BE SWIMMING AND THERE ARE A GROUP OF FRIENDS ON THE SHORE.

I DON’T KNOW WHERE I’D BE WITHOUT TO-DO LISTS. I MAKE LISTS TO COVER LISTS! IT USED TO BE MUCH EASIER WHEN YOU JUST WROTE THINGS DOWN IN ONE PLACE BUT NOW JUST MEETING SOMEONE FOR COFFEE CAN REQUIRE EMAILS, TEXTS AND PHONE CALLS – IT’S ALL GOT MORE COMPLICATED.

I THINK MANY OF US HAVE LOST THE ART OF SILENCE, REFLECTION AND LISTENING. OFTEN THE PEOPLE WHO TALK THE LOUDEST AND THE MOST ARE REGARDED AS THE ONES WHO ARE THE MOST MEANINGFUL. AND ACTUALLY MAYBE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING ELSEWHERE. WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DISCREET AND CALM AND SPEAK WHEN THEY HAVE SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT TO SAY.

LIFE IS LIKE EXERCISING – YOU’RE NOT GETTING ANYWHERE UNLESS IT HURTS A BIT. IN Paranoid I PLAY LUCY, A WOMAN WHO WITNESSES A BRUTAL MURDER. SHE HAS TAKEN MEDICATION IN THE PAST, BUT IS NOW TRYING TO LIVE A SIMPLER LIFE AND UNDERSTAND HER ANXIETY RATHER THAN TRY TO MEDICATE IT AWAY. I THINK WE’RE INCREASINGLY LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE ANYTHING THAT BOTHERS YOU, BUT IT’S JUST PART OF BEING HUMAN. IT’S OK NOT TO BE PERFECT AND TO HAVE A MESSY LIFE.

MY SISTER IS TEN YEARS OLDER THAN ME SO GROWING UP I DID FEEL LIKE AN ONLY CHILD. BUT I WAS NEVER LONELY. I LOVED TO DRESS UP AND PUT ON SHOWS WITH OTHER CHILDREN. I WAS THE KID WHO FORCES THE ADULTS TO WATCH A PRODUCTION WHEN THEY’D MUCH RATHER BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE.

I WAS ATTRACTED TO LUCY BECAUSE SHE’S REALLY INTRIGUING WITHOUT BEING IN EVERY SINGLE SCENE. IT’S UNUSUAL TO PLAY CHARACTERS THAT COME IN AND OUT OF SOMETHING WHO ARE STILL ABLE TO BE THAT INTERESTING, ESPECIALLY FOR CHARACTERS WHO ARE OLDER WOMEN.

TOTALLY SWITCHING OFF TO WATCH Great British Bake Off IS A TREAT. MY SIGNATURE BAKE IS BANANA LOAF AND I DO A VERY GOOD CARROT CAKE TOO. I FOLLOW TRUSTED OLD RECIPES TORN OUT OF MAGAZINES WITH BITS OF MIXTURE STUCK TO THEM.

PARANOID IS on ITV, Thursdays, 9pm >>

“Being in your fifties can be an unsettling time”

KATHERINE KELLY, 36, LIVES WITH HER HUSBAND, RYAN CLARK, IN LONDON. THEY HAVE ONE DAUGHTER, ORLA, AGED TWO.

HAVING ORLA HAS MADE ME REDISCOVER THE JOY OF SIMPLE THINGS. SHE’S AT THAT AGE WHERE THE WHOLE WORLD IS A WONDER TO HER – IF SHE SEES A CAT SHE’S COMPLETELY BESIDE HERSELF! I KNOW THIS STAGE WON’T LAST SO I’M INDULGING IN IT AS MUCH AS I CAN.

I DON’T GET EXCITED BY FANCY DINNERS OR EXPENSIVE GIFTS – IN FACT, I DON’T EVEN OWN AN ENGAGEMENT RING! ACTIONS ARE FAR MORE PRECIOUS THAN POSSESSIONS THOUGH, AREN’T THEY? WHEN ORLA WAS BORN, RYAN WAS BY MY SIDE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY – AND HE’S BEEN EVERYTHING THAT I HOPED FOR AS A FATHER; THAT BRINGS ME MORE HAPPINESS THAN A DESIGNER BAG EVER COULD.

I’VE BURNT MYSELF OUT IN THE PAST WHEN I’VE TRIED TO KEEP ALL THE PLATES SPINNING AT ONCE. MENTALLY, I’M STRONG, BUT PHYSICALLY IT’S GOT THE BETTER OF ME AND I’VE HAD TO REALISE YOU CAN’T FIT 36 HOURS WORTH OF STUFF INTO A 24-HOUR DAY. THESE DAYS, I TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS OFF IN BETWEEN PROJECTS AND CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS, DO ODD JOBS AROUND THE HOUSE OR HAVE A BIG CLEAROUT. I GET A REAL FEELING OF CALM FROM THAT.

WE ALL LOVE TO PUT OUR FEET UP AND WATCH TV ONCE IN A WHILE, DON’T WE? I’VE JUST FINISHED CATCHING UP ON BBC TWO’S Wolf Hall ABOUT A YEAR AFTER EVERYONE ELSE! MY LIST OF THINGS TO WATCH HAS GOT SO LONG NOW I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO START NEXT!

GOING TO A YOGA CLASS FOR AN HOUR FEELS LIKE A BIT OF AN INDULGENCE FOR ME! I JUST DON’T REALLY HAVE TIME AND IT’S MUCH FURTHER DOWN MY TO-DO LIST NOW I’M A WORKING MUM. I’M ALWAYS TAKING ORLA OUT AND ABOUT, AND I’M ON MY FEET ALL DAY AT WORK SO I DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT.

IN MY NEW DRAMA, Him, I PLAY HANNAH, THE MOTHER OF A TEENAGE BOY, WHO

HAS NO IDEA HER SON HAS SUPERNATURAL POWERS. IT’S A BRILLIANT SCRIPT BUT YOU NEVER KNOW IF SOMETHING IS GOING TO CAPTURE THE AUDIENCE’S IMAGINATION OR NOT. THAT’S OUT OF YOUR HANDS AND

FOR THE PUBLIC TO DECIDE IF IT’S A HIT.

I’VE JUST FINISHED FILMING Class FOR THE BBC. AGAIN – FABULOUS SCRIPTS, BUT

THE VIEWER DECIDES!

HIM airs on ITV this October

“Taking time out for a yoga class feels like an indulgence since Orla arrived!”

KATHERINE PARKINSON, 38, LIVES IN LONDON WITH HER HUSBAND, ACTOR HARRY PEACOCK, AND THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS, GWENDOLYN, TWO, AND DORA, THREE.

I’D HAVE A FACIAL EVERY WEEK IF I COULD AFFORD IT. I GO TO A PLACE RECOMMENDED TO ME BY [ACTRESS] RUTH JONES CALLED LINDA MEREDITH. THERE’S SOMETHING QUITE WONDERFUL ABOUT BEING ABLE TO

LIE THERE AND SWITCH OFF WHILE SOMEONE SORTS OUT MY SKIN TROUBLES!

MY IDEAL NIGHT IN WOULD BE SPENT ON THE SOFA WATCHING A NETFLIX SHOW WITH HARRY. IT’S SOMETHING WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WHILE WE’RE DOING BATH TIME OR MAKING THE DINNER BECAUSE IT’S TIME FOR JUST THE TWO OF US WHEN WE CAN SHARE SOMETHING WE BOTH LOVE. WE’VE JUST FINISHED THE FIRST SERIES OF Bloodline, AND NOW WE’RE ABOUT TO START THE SECOND SERIES OF Fargo. I CAN’T WAIT.

HARRY AND I RECENTLY WENT TO A JIVE NIGHT AT THE RIVOLI BALLROOM AND WE HAD SUCH FUN. WE’VE NEVER HAD LESSONS BEFORE, BUT WE BOTH FANCY OURSELVES AS DANCERS AND THOUGHT OUR NATURAL RHYTHM WOULD KICK IN – WELL, IT DIDN’T! THERE WERE ALL THESE INCREDIBLE DANCERS THERE AND IT TURNS OUT HARRY AND I LOOK MORE LIKE AN EMBARRASSING AUNTIE AND UNCLE DANCING AT A WEDDING! THERE’S A MOVE I DO WHERE I KNOCK MY KNEES TOGETHER – THAT’S WHEN HARRY USUALLY SAYS IT’S TIME FOR US TO GO HOME. WE MADE A PACT TO START TAKING LESSONS, WHICH I’M QUITE EXCITED ABOUT.

WE’VE JUST RETURNED FROM OUR FIRST FAMILY GLAMPING HOLIDAY IN DEVON – AND I SURPRISED MYSELF HOW MUCH I LOVED IT. WE STAYED IN A LITTLE YURT, SO THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY OR PHONE SIGNAL AND HAVING THOUGHT, “HOW ON EARTH WILL I COPE WITHOUT MY IPHONE?” I WAS AMAZED AT HOW QUICKLY YOU ADAPT. WE COULDN’T FIND ANY COFFEE ANYWHERE AND I CONVINCED MYSELF I WAS GOING TO HAVE MIGRAINES AND GET THE SHAKES – BUT ACTUALLY, I WAS FINE. IT WAS A REAL LESSON FOR ME THAT YOU CAN GIVE UP THE THINGS YOU LOVE IF THEY’RE NOT DOING YOU ANY FAVOURS.

DAWN FRENCH ONCE SAID: “THERE ARE

TWO TYPES OF WOMEN; THOSE WHO LIKE CHOCOLATE AND ABSOLUTE BITCHES” – WELL, I’M THE FORMER! I HATE TO ADMIT IT, BUT I EAT CHOCOLATE EVERY DAY. THERE’S A SHOP IN SOHO CALLED SAID DAL 1923, WHICH IS VERY UNFORTUNATELY SITUATED AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY AGENT, SO I FIND MYSELF GOING THERE FAR MORE OFTEN THAN I SHOULD! I DON’T EVEN HAVE A CUPBOARD WHERE I STORE IT ALL, I JUST PUT IT IN THE BOTTOM OF MY BAG. I’VE BEEN ADDICTED TO FAR WORSE THINGS IN MY LIFE THOUGH,

SO I WON’T BE GIVING IT UP IN A HURRY.

WHAT’S ON MY TO-DO LIST? LEARN TO DRIVE. I DIDN’T DO IT WHEN I WAS YOUNG BECAUSE I KNEW MY PARENTS COULDN’T AFFORD TO GET ME A CAR, BUT NOW I’M IN THIS POSITION WHERE I FEEL QUITE INADEQUATE AS A MOTHER BECAUSE I CAN’T FERRY MY KIDS AROUND. I’M PLANNING ON DOING AN INTENSIVE COURSE – MY RELATIVES ARE WORRIED BECAUSE I CAN BE A BIT GUNG-HO IN THAT SORT OF SCENARIO, BUT NONE OF THEM THOUGHT I’D ENJOY A GLAMPING HOLIDAY EITHER SO WE’LL SEE IF I CAN PROVE THEM WRONG AGAIN!

SOMETIMES I DREAM ABOUT HAVING MY OWN ROBOT, LIKE MY CHARACTER, LAURA, IN Humans. LIKE HER, I HAVE A NATURAL RETICENCE TOWARDS NEW TECHNOLOGY

– I LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL THINGS HAVE BEEN AROUND A WHILE BEFORE I SIGN UP MYSELF. BUT MY LACK OF DOMESTIC ABILITY IS APPALLING – I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S A FEMINIST STATEMENT OR IF IT’S A CONDITION THAT HASN’T BEEN DIAGNOSED YET. I’D LIKE A ROBOT THAT WOULD SORT OUT MY WARDROBE AND GET RID OF ALL THE MOTHS. I HATE THE IDEA OF ANOTHER HUMAN DOING IT, BUT

THE IDEA OF A ROBOT WHO WOULDN’T JUDGE ME FOR HOW MANY DIRTY SOCKS I’VE GOT THROUGH IS SOMEHOW VERY APPEALING!

HUMANS airs on C4 this October

“If you look inside my handbag, you’ll discover I’ve got a bit of a chocolate addiction!”

HATTIE MORAHAN, 38, LIVES IN LONDON WITH HER FIANCÉ, ACTOR BLAKE RITSON AND THEIR NEWBORN DAUGHTER.

I WISH I COULD GET TO THE CINEMA

MORE OFTEN. IT WOULD BE A LUXURY TO GO SOMEWHERE LIKE THE PHOENIX IN FINCHLEY, LONDON, WHICH PUTS ON GREAT DOUBLE BILLS – Les Diaboliques WITH The Innocents, FOR EXAMPLE. I LOVE THAT ELEMENT OF FORTUITOUSNESS WHEN YOU LET SOMEONE ELSE DO THE PROGRAMMING FOR YOU AND DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW.

I ENJOY COOKING FROM THE OTTOLENGHI COOKBOOK. I’D MARINATE LAMB IN SOY, HONEY AND CORIANDER, BEFORE COOKING IT ON A SIZZLING GRIDDLE. THEN I’D FOLLOW IT WITH A HOMEMADE DARK GOOEY CHOCOLATE CAKE!

BEING WITH THE RIGHT PERSON HAS GIVEN ME THE CONFIDENCE TO PURSUE MY DREAMS. AND I’M REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE FOUND THAT SO YOUNG; THERE’S SOMETHING IMMENSELY POWERFUL ABOUT THE SECURITY OF LOVING SOMEONE AND BEING LOVED. BLAKE AND I MET DURING MY FIRST TERM AT UNIVERSITY AND THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM, I COULDN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF HIM. I HAD A REALLY STRONG GUT FEELING ABOUT HIM,

BUT THE ODDS WERE STACKED AGAINST US IN A WAY BECAUSE HE CAME TO SEE ME PLAYING A PART IN Animal Farm. I WAS PLAYING A PIG IN A BOILER SUIT, WHICH IS REALLY NOT HOW YOU WANT YOUR BELOVED TO SEE YOU! LUCKILY, HE SAW BEYOND THE BOILER SUIT AND MY TERRIBLE DEEP VOICE. WE GOT ENGAGED TEN YEARS AGO AND WE’RE STILL ENGAGED NOW, WHICH I’M COMPLETELY CONTENT WITH. WE HAVE FAITH IN EACH OTHER WHEN WE DON’T HAVE IT IN OURSELVES, AND WE’VE BOTH BEEN EACH OTHER’S ROCK WHEN THINGS HAVE BEEN WOBBLY. LIFE IS GOOD AS IT IS AND THERE’S NOT MUCH THAT’S MORE SOLID THAN HAVING A BABY WITH SOMEONE, SO I DON’T FEEL ANY RUSH TO GET MARRIED. ALTHOUGH WHO KNOWS – MAYBE IN 20 YEARS’ TIME!

I ALWAYS HAD A STRONG SENSE THAT MOTHERHOOD WOULD BE PART OF MY FUTURE. BUT THE REALITY OF WORKING

AND MAKING A LIVING AND SURVIVING IN LONDON IS KIND OF COMPLEX, SO WE LEFT IT QUITE LATE, WHICH A LOT OF MY FRIENDS HAVE, TOO. THAT’S THE ECONOMICAL REALITY OF THE WORLD NOW. I KNOW THINGS CHANGE WITH A BABY, BUT LONG-TERM I HOPE I CAN CONTINUE

TO DO WORK THAT’S REWARDING.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I WAS CAUTIOUS ABOUT SHARING MY DESIRE TO ACT. I’D FEIGN UNCERTAINTY BECAUSE IT FELT TOO PRECIOUS TO PUT OUT THERE FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO JUDGE. BUT IN MANY WAYS, MUM [ANNA CARTERET] BEING AN ACTRESS GAVE ME GREAT CONFIDENCE. I KNEW WHAT WAS INVOLVED AND I HAD A SENSE OF HOW THAT TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL PLAYS TO BEING PROFESSIONAL WOULD WORK. BUT IT ALSO MEANT A STRONG SENSE OF WANTING TO PROVE MY OWN WORTH AND CAPABILITY. I WAS DETERMINED TO GET WORK OFF MY OWN BACK AND NOT EVER BE HANDED ANYTHING ON A PLATE.

MY NEW TV SERIES, My Mother and Other Strangers, IS SET IN RURAL IRELAND IN THE EARLY 1940S. I PLAY ROSE COYNE, WHO’S BRITISH BUT MARRIED TO A NORTHERN IRISHMAN AFTER HE SWEPT HER OFF HER FEET. BUT THEN SHE MEETS AN AMERICAN OFFICER AND FINDS HERSELF TOPPLING HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE – IT ABSOLUTELY AMBUSHES HER. WE WERE FILMING FOR THREE MONTHS AND I WAS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF PREGNANCY. I WAS A BIT WORRIED AS I HAD NO IDEA HOW BIG I’D GET AND HOW DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE TO HIDE MY BUMP. BY THE END I WAS 20 WEEKS AND HAD TO DO A COUPLE OF OVERCOAT SCENES!

Hattie stars in MY MOTHER AND OTHER STRANGERS which starts on BBC One this October W&H

“There’s something immensely powerful about loving someone and being loved”