The one lesson I’ve learned from life

LESLEY JOSEPH, 73, sprang to fame as man-eating Dorien Green in the sitcom Birds Of A Feather and has since starred extensively on stage and screen. She appeared on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2016. Divorced, she lives in London.

LEAN FORWARD SO FATE CAN SEE YOU

WHEN I was 14, my headmistress called my parents in and told them they had to put me on the stage. In her opinion, I was a born actress. That set me on the path that was to be my life.

Fast-forward to my early 20s and I was in Edinburgh for the Festival, where one of my tasks was to look after Quentin Crisp, checking that he was in the right place at the right time.

He said something that I will never forget. ‘Believe in Fate,’ he told me, ‘but there’s no harm in leaning forward where Fate can see you.’

What I took from that is you should recognise luck when it comes knocking.

Some years later, I did a play at a venue called, coincidentally, The Good Luck Theatre. I did it for no money because I had an instinct that something so well written would be a memorable showcase for me. And so it proved.

It transferred to the West End where it was seen by Laurence Marks, one half of the team who wrote Birds Of A Feather. As a result, he and his co-writer Maurice Gran created the role of Dorien for me. My gamble had paid off.

If I were offered the role of a spear carrier in a wonderful production at the National Theatre, I’d never think it was beneath me, as it would be a chance to work with one of the world’s great directors.

And, if you’re invested in a part, however seemingly insignificant it might be, who knows what it might lead to?

You shouldn’t go into this business because you fancy the idea; it’s got to be because it’s something you have to do.

Once you’re in that creative environment, people will see the passion you have for your work.

I never walk on to a stage without believing this is the first performance I’m giving in a role.

If an opportunity is offered to you, grab it. I was lucky my headmistress pointed me in the right direction in the first place. But from that day onwards, sometimes without realising it, I ran with whatever came my way.