The one lesson I’ve learned from life
Actress Susie Blake
ACTRESS Susie Blake, 67, is best known for her role in Victoria Wood’s TV series, playing Bev Unwin in Coronation Street and Hilary Nicholson in Mrs Brown’s Boys. Divorced, she has a son and two granddaughters and lives in London. WANT TO STAY YOUNG? NEVER RETIRE I’m VERY fortunate that I’ve never been beautiful. I could be made up to look quite pretty when I was young. But my mother had a very robust attitude. She’d say: ‘Oh, you’re rubber-faced,’ and we never talked about weight. my mum gave me a good sense of myself in the world. I think if you are really beautiful, it must be difficult to lose it as you age.
That’s not to say I don’t look after myself. I try to eat healthily. I walk a lot and keep my shoulders moving, so I can lift things and reach shelves. And I have a ridiculous notion that not driving keeps people alive longer. Look at my mum! She carried her own shopping all the time and lived to 93 — and my stepdad, who died last year at 96.
I’m still working: none of my friends have retired from this business. For my new role touring with Some mothers Do ’Ave ’Em, I’m staying with a friend who’s helping me learn lines. Every tour I do is a bit tougher. It’s lots of travel, but a new audience each night keeps my mind agile. At this age, you need to keep engaged.
I have periods without work but, instead of panicking, I think: ‘I’m 67 now, good God, and I’ve got a pension. I don’t need to work in the same way I did when I was bringing up a family and paying a mortgage.’ It’s a more relaxed outlook.
I’ve learned life isn’t fair. It’s incomprehensible that Victoria [Wood] is not in the world. She had a zest for life. We used to do Jane Fonda workout videos in the BBC dressing room, and she swam. I can’t really accept it’s happened. Another friend is in a home with dementia.
When my mum died in 2011, I realised I wasn’t a child any more. I thought: ‘This is your turn now. You can’t run to her for a hug and an “It’ll be all right, dear”. Up until she died, there was somebody else to take responsibility. I’ve always been rather bad at taking responsibility, apart from in roles. It’s taken me a long time to grow up. I’ve always been annoyingly mary Poppins-ish. But I am realising you can’t be childish about life any more.
SOME Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em tours the UK from February 21. Dates and venues at somemothersdoaveem.com