Stars of stage and screen on why show must go on in older age

Most of us dream of retirement, the earlier the better in fact. But actors are a different breed.When asked if she’d ever retire, Dame Helen Mirren, who was 69 at the time, said: “I will never retire. Even if I did, I would never declare it.A fun role or something you feel like doing might just come up.” True to her word, and to our delight, she’s still lighting up the screen aged 77.

Judi Dench is another stalwart who refuses to step back from her acting career, despite suffering from a degenerative eye disease which means she can no longer read scripts. Instead, the 87-year-old relies on her photographic memory to remember her lines. I wonder how many young actors these days would show such fortitude and dedication?

When the topic of retirement came up during our interview with TV star Lesley Joseph this week, she shared a similar view.

The 77-year-old actress, who is currently touring the UK in a new stage version of Sister Act, tells us on pages 6&7:“When I talk about retiring, I just mean I will no longer do long tours and I will be slightly more selective about what I do.”

Joseph admits it can be physically exhausting but it’s clear her passion for her craft far outweighs any thoughts of putting her feet up.

Perhaps Mirren explained it best when she said:“It is hard to let go of the creativity involved and the attention you get.”

Whatever the reason, it’s great to see these talented women are still in demand.We can only hope they’ll be entertaining us for many more years to come.