Saunders: Being happy is a treat

AS one of Britain’s foremost comedians, you might have thought her life would be filled with laughter.

But Jennifer Saunders has said she has trained herself to think of happiness as being a ‘treat’ rather than a constant state of being.

The Absolutely Fabulous star, 64, said people need to ‘plough on’ with their lives and not put so much pressure on being happy all the time.

Ms Saunders has been married to fellow comic Ade Edmondson since 1985. The couple have three daughters and five grandchildren.

‘Everything’s copeable with, isn’t it? But also, people aren’t always happy... I think we all have to learn that,’ she told the Observer Magazine. ‘Happiness is a treat on top of everything else and life is hard work sometimes,’ she added.

Ms Saunders was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and has said the ordeal changed her outlook on life.

She rose to fame alongside comedy partner Dawn French in the sketch French and Saunders and is starring in a new comedy film Allelujah.