‘A cold shower makes me feel like I’ve been WD-40’D’
Martine Mccutcheon shares her health and wellness secrets and reveals how becoming a model at the age of 45 is a teenage dream come true
Martine Mccutcheon has much to celebrate in 2022. Alongside her 10 years of marriage to 37-year-old singer-songwriter Jack Mcmanus, the former Eastenders and Love Actually actress has just launched a modelling career after being signed by the prestigious Elite Model Management, which has represented catwalk icons Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell. And we can see why – a glance at Martine’s Instagram page confirms that she’s practically glowing.
Over the past decade, Martine has suffered a number of hidden illnesses that have been tough to deal with, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and Lyme disease. But she has found ways to manage her health, which has given her the energy to chase both her dreams and her sevenyear-old “miracle baby” Rafferty, who was conceived despite fertility issues.
Here, Martine, 45, talks about looking after her mental health, how married life has changed her and the secret behind her youthful looks...
Hi, Martine. Congratulations on landing a modelling contract! How did that come about?
Something that helped me, mentally and physically, get through another day of this pandemic was to get dressed up and put make-up on. Then people online were like, “She’s wearing this, she’s wearing that,” and asking where I got the rugs in my living room from. And then Elite got in touch and said, “We love your style and we would love to sign you.” I couldn’t believe it. I was so flattered and over the moon. My 13-year-old self nearly died and went to heaven.
What have you done so far?
I’ve been the face of things and
I’ve done modelling for all different kinds of beauty, fashion, lifestyle and interiors brands. And it’s just been such a lovely surprise. Twenty years ago it wouldn’t have happened to someone who’s 45.
You’ve said you don’t want to talk about your weight, but you’re looking very fit and happy…
Thank you. I think it takes a long time to work out what your own recipe is. It’s taken me such a long time to look through all the stuff that’s out there, and just do what works for me. So it’s not as simple as just going on a crazy diet. I just feel like it’s really important to encourage women to be the best version of themselves.
Do you follow a particular diet to stay healthy?
The 80/20 rule is what works for me. For 80% of my week, I will have mainly just healthy proteins, vegetables and fruit, organic and veggie juices, and Flora Proactiv spread. Then I’ll have treats 20% of the time – I’ll have that slice of pizza, chocolate or a gin and tonic to celebrate a friend’s birthday. I’ll do it because I know that for most of the week, I’ve been doing the good bits for my heart.
What sort of exercise do you do?
I walk with my dogs every day – it’s good for my head and my health. Normally I’ll do the school drop-off ready to go in my trainers with the dogs in the back of the car. Then I’ll go straight to the forest. When we lived in London, I would walk to the parks or go on the treadmill in the gym, but it wasn’t as satisfying as it is now. Now we live in the Surrey countryside I have a lot more beautiful space around me, where I have that time to breathe. I like to walk for about 40 minutes.
How do you look after your mental health?
With the walking, and I also do meditation every day. I’ve got the Calm app and I listen to Tamara Levitt, who does a 10-minute meditation every day. I do that after I’ve done my walk, and then there’s like a little five-minute stretch segment, and that’s me done. I’m not into any crazy fads. Some people have to let out all that excess energy. For me, I’ve found that my way forward is anything that’s calming, like breathing, meditation, stretching.
You suffer from fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread pain and extreme tiredness. You’ve talked about taking cold showers every day to combat it. That sounds very uncomfortable!
It’s not every day, but I have one when I can. I’ll have a cold shower at the end [of a hot shower] and stay in there as long as I can. It really kind of makes me feel like I’ve been WD-40’D. I want to try the whole cryo thing when you go into a [cryotherapy] chamber and it’s freezing cold. It’s meant to be amazing for inflammatory issues. Top sportsmen like Cristiano Ronaldo are said to use a cryotherapy chamber before every match. I’m definitely going to give it a go.
You and your husband Jack will have been married for 10 years this September. How will you celebrate?
We don’t know yet if our celebration is going to be a small or big thing, given there’s a question mark hanging over travel, but we definitely will do something. We got married at Lake Como and it was just the most magical experience ever.
How has married life changed you?
I have a very strong and silent, but supportive partner who is successful in his own right. He’s a producer and songwriter, so he understands the industry, but he’s got his own success and his own confidence, and he loves to help me shine. I’m very lucky I met somebody like that, because in our industry, you can meet people who are either competing with you or they don’t understand the industry. So for me, it was the perfect cocktail.
And what about motherhood?
It’s just the absolute best thing that’s ever happened to me. Rafferty was a miracle child. I was told I couldn’t have children and when I was trying to have IVF, they were like, “Nope, you can’t have children.” Afterwards they were like, “We don’t know how you had him!” They said the same thing to my mum and she had two children. So it’s obvious we’re very, very blessed with our little miracles, because I know it’s a struggle for a lot of women. I’m biased, but Rafferty is a very special soul.
You’ve signed up with Flora Proactiv and the charity Heart UK to encourage people to keep their cholesterol levels healthy. How did high cholesterol become a worry to you?
About 15 years ago my nan ended up having a triple bypass operation on her heart and it made us all a lot more conscious of cholesterol. So my auntie was checked and she had an issue; my mum was checked and she didn’t. I’ve been checked and mine is OK. My nan has passed now, but she was never the same after the bypass. So I’ve seen first-hand [the dangers] and I can’t overstate the message of how something as simple as having Flora Proactiv in your fridge and walking every day can make the most massive changes to something that can be so huge and so devastating.
‘I just feel like it’s really important to encourage women to just be the best version of themselves’
And finally, it was Valentine’s Day last
week. How did you and Jack celebrate?
We’ll celebrate on another day so we can get some privacy. Going out on Valentine’s Day, you’re just asking for all the phone cameras to be out!
MARTINE IS WORKING WITH FLORA PROACTIV TO ANNOUNCE ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH HEART UK AND EDUCATE THE COUNTRY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING AND
TESTING CHOLESTEROL LEVELS