Under the microscope
CAN YOU RUN UP THE STAIRS?
I’VE run 5km four or five times a week since I was about 17. Running is my therapy — it helps me clear my head.
GET YOUR FIVE A DAY?
I LOVE vegetables. I cook a lot with peppers, courgettes, aubergines and garlic. With fruit, I’ll grab whichever is about to go off and juice it. Sometimes I’ll add a splash of vodka!
EVER DIETED?
NO. I cannot deprive myself but I’m really good at stopping when I’ve had enough. I’m 5 ft 1 in and I’m pretty much always just over or under 8 st.
HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOU?
I AVOIDED catching Covid until recently and it was horrible when I did. My entire throat closed up and I had a raging temperature. That was several weeks ago, but I’m still more tired than usual.
ANY VICES?
I HAVE a glass of wine every day — and I don’t beat myself up about it.
ANY FAMILY AILMENTS?
NO, BUT my mum did die prematurely. She went into hospital and caught Clostridium difficile, which was really sad. My dad passed away just before the pandemic and, in a way, that was a blessing as he was 93 and had dementia.
WORST INJURY?
I WAS at a gig in Glasgow when I was 17 and got caught in the crossfire when a fight broke out. A broken glass slashed my left cheek. I ended up with 27 stitches. I had to have it reopened about 15 years later, as I’d developed a lump in my cheek and an X-ray revealed that there was still a piece of glass in my face. It was the size of a 50p piece.
POP ANY PILLS?
HRT. It’s made a big difference to everybody’s life in this household.
EVER HAVE PLASTIC SURGERY?
BEING able to move my face is important to me as a singer and actor, so I don’t think I’ll go down the Botox route. Not yet anyway.
EVER BEEN DEPRESSED?
I’VE had low points in my life, particularly when I had six miscarriages and four unsuccessful IVF treatments. What stopped me from crashing was I was always looking for solutions. [Clare adopted her daughter in 2005]. Parenthood has been the most incredible thing.
HANGOVER CURE?
AN OLD Scottish combination of a fry-up and some Irn-Bru. And the fry-up must include tattie scones.
WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT?
EVERYTHING. Don’t tell me anything because it will keep me up all night.
ANY PHOBIAS?
NONE. I’ve been terrified of everything and then realised there was no point. Now I quite like facing my fears.
LIKE TO LIVE FOR EVER?
NO. It’d be really exhausting. I can’t wait for a big, long sleep.
■ ALTERED IMAGES’ album Mascara Streakz is released by Cooking Vinyl on August 26.