Life lessons with Emilia Fox
As she returns in the drama Delicious, EMILIA FOX talks about embracing life’s mistakes, taking nothing for granted and why Dawn French is her role model
If work is there, you take it
That’s why I work so much – it’s just the way I’ve been brought up. When I was in my 20s, I prayed to go from job to job to job and I’m grateful that I can. It means I also appreciate every second of time when
I’m at home with Rose (her daughter, aged eight, with ex Jeremy Gilley). Besides, Rose has a busier life than me with all her clubs! I’m glad to be doing something while she’s at school and I’m often sat at home thinking, ‘When is Rose getting home?!’
Take nothing for granted
As I’ve got older and become a parent, I’ve become more thoughtful about life and I feel so grateful to be in my 40s and working and to have a little girl who I adore.
I never take my family or friends for granted. I’ll never forget going to the postmortem of a young man in the prime of life as my research for Silent Witness. It left me realising you have to make the most of every second, because you just never know what’s around the corner.
Listen to Mum and Dad
My parents (actors Edward Fox and Joanna David) have taught me so much about life. They were always very loving and still are, and I hope I’ve been able to pass that capacity to love on as mum to Rose. They also encouraged me to be independent and so from a young age I’ve been very selfsufficient and have a very strong work ethic. I’m proud of that.
Don’t fear age
It’s a privilege to get older. Also, I bring a lot more life experience to the parts I play which hopefully makes me a better actress than I was before. My character, Sam, in Delicious is a working single mum in her 40s and I can certainly relate to that.
Mentors are so useful
Since meeting Dawn French on Delicious, she has become a bit of a mentor. I really admire her as a woman, a working mother and for her principles and view on life. She’s a friend with very wise words – she talks about perspective and believes that it’s your choice whether to view life positively. She
also made me realise that you can’t change other people’s behaviour; we can only change ours and decide which way we turn to face. She’s a real champion of women and I feel I’ve grown just knowing her.
■ The third series of Delicious is on Sky 1 and NOW TV
■ Emilia returns to BBC1 with Silent Witness later this month
■ She was talking to Vicki Power