How to master midlife

Every stage in life has challenges. You’re more likely to dip in and out of careers while raising children. When I had my first child in my early twenties, I was told I was too old to go back to acting. I feel I wasn’t given opportunities because I took time out to be a mum.

Women can lose confidence around midlife and think, ‘Where do I fit now?’ My eldest child is in his thirties and even though I’ve kept my career going in the background, you do have a slight identity crisis when your kids grow up. And it’s not just mothers – it’s so easy to get pigeonholed or told you can’t do things because of your age.

The key is to stay fulfilled, motivated, open-minded, flexible and have the confidence to reinvent yourself. Create opportunities for yourself. I kept going back to study. In my late forties/early fifties I did an MA in film production, because I wanted to pivot from acting into production. Because of this I got the opportunity to direct in my mid-fifties. When it comes to overcoming your fears or impostor syndrome, you have to throw yourself into research, do online courses and look for a mentor. I did all of those things; now I want to mentor others.

Have the confidence to look at what you can bring to something and take risks. When I was doing the press for a documentary I directed on the fashion designer Mary Quant, I did a podcast with Twiggy and cheekily said to her, ‘Have you ever thought about having a documentary telling your life story? Because I’d love to do it.’ She said not really, but a few hours later she called me and said she was up for it, and now I’m making a documentary on Twiggy. The key is to remember you’ve got nothing to lose, because at every age there’s always so many things you can offer yourself and society. Postcards From Midlife Live is a new women’s lifestyle event, 19-20 May in London. For more details visit postcardsfrommidlifelive.co.uk