“My highlight was singing in the car with Robson Green!”

Polly Walker, 52, lives in london with her husband, laurence Penry-Jones. She has two grown-up children from a previous relationship. Polly plays Bel.

I play Bel, the eldest daughter, who is brought in to help save the struggling family business. She has just sent her twins off to university and that’s where it all begins. She’s been focusing on being a mother and a wife, and now she’s rediscovering who she is and what she wants out of life.

It’s a theme I can definitely relate to. Bel and I are a similar age, my kids are a similar age to hers, and I think all women who have spent years bringing up children suddenly find themselves thinking, “Who am I? What am I? What do I like doing?” You really do forget because you spend so much energy nurturing other people – and you’re generally last on the list. There’s not a lot you can do about ageing, is there? It’s going to happen whether you like it or not, so embrace it. Obviously I want to look as good as I can and be as healthy as possible, but I try not to get too caught up on what’s on the outside – and that’s very much the message of the show.

My favourite scene was singing with Robson Green. Although Age Before Beauty is a drama, there are these wonderful moments where we dance together, and a great scene where Robson and I share a song in the car.

Age Before Beauty is on at 9pm on Tuesdays on BBC One. w&h