HONOR BLACKMANMy secret to looking fabulous is... ‘Fast cars and London’
The actress, 83, gets her kicks from living life in the fast lane
Honor’s hour-glass figure helped her win iconic roles like Bond girl Pussy Galore in Goldfinger and feisty Cathy Gale in The Avengers. More recently, she was swinger Rula in Coronation Street. She’s currently filming Reuniting The Rubins, and later this month releases a new single, The Star Who Fell From Grace. Twice divorced, the 83-year-old has two adopted children, Lottie, 42, and Barnaby, 41, and lives in west London.
‘I may be in my ninth decade, but there is something very sexy about driving a fast car. If I could have any, it would be an Aston Martin or a Ferrari. Something fast and racy. The very noise they make turns me on. I’ve had a lot of cars and currently drive a VW Golf V5, which can get me into trouble for speeding. If I had my way, I’d remove all those cameras and let common sense prevail. Mind you, I’m a much safer driver than I used to be. When I was younger, I rode a motorbike and was frequently stopped for going too fast. On occasion, if we were running late in the morning, I’d take my children to school on it. They hated it. No other mother would arrive at their school in a crash helmet. It was shameful for them.
I’ve been stopped by the police several times. I always remove my seatbelt when I’m reversing my car, because the belt is uncomfortable. I once did this outside Harrods, and when a policeman walked over and asked me why I wasn’t wearing it, I told him it hurt my bosom as I moved about. He quickly disappeared.
I’ve lived in London for 60 years, and although I love visiting my children in Sussex, I could never live in a rural community. I like the buzz of being in a vibrant city. I’m a city girl. I like parties and I like to flirt. Flirting makes life much more pleasurable, it doesn’t matter what age you are. I’d love to flirt with George Clooney. Wouldn’t that be something?
I’m always drawn to men with gorgeous legs, that’s why I love football. I’ve worked with some very sexy men. Dean Martin was sexy. The way he looked, the way he twinkled… If you turn somebody on and they turn you on, a lot of twinkling follows. Sean Connery was my James Bond and he’s the best, very sexy. He’s got a lovely voice and a fabulous body. Pussy Galore was an exciting role. She wasn’t a bimbo who fell on her back the minute she had James in her sights, like a lot of the Bond women did.
Although I like to flirt, I’m no more confident about my body than the next woman, but I’ve managed to strip off in front of the camera, and when I look back, it makes me smile that I did. I was naked in The Virgin And The Gypsy. There was no one about until I took my clothes off, then it turned into Butlins holiday camp.
I think it’s important to look after yourself. I style my hair and dress well. I eat healthily but I don’t cook. I hate the kitchen. I prefer to eat out. I think it’s important to exercise and keep trim at any age. I spend 15 minutes on my exercise bike each day and I do stomach crunches and pilates. I’ve always looked after my skin. I’ve been meticulous about cleaning my face since my teens. Washing with soap isn’t enough, one must cleanse, tone and moisturise. I’ve been to bed in my make-up twice in my entire life, when I was drunk. I’m awfully ashamed of that. I tried Botox once, five years ago. It was reasonably painless, but I haven’t felt the need to have it since. I don’t want to be a frozen image.
I think laughter is sexy and I’ve always tried to maintain a sense of humour. That’s vital because it means you can deal with whatever life throws at you. I’ve had breast cancer and I was once tied-up by burglars at home, which was frightfully scary.
I have a lot of lovely male friends who I go out with, but I could never live with a man now. The idea of having to worry about anybody else doesn’t appeal. It’s nice to be able to say goodnight and shut the door.’
The Star Who Fell From Grace (Music Infinity) is released on 13 July
STEPHANIE BEACHAMMy secret to looking fabulous is... ‘Diamonds, glamour and happiness’
Diamonds really are a girl’s best friend for Stephanie, 62
Stephanie Beacham made her name in the 80s as Sable Colby in Dynasty and The Colbys. She’s more recently known for playing Phyl Oswyn in Bad Girls, and Martha Fraser in Coronation Street. She is divorced, with two grown-up children, Chloe and Phoebe.
‘I like a bit of glitz and glamour. Don’t all girls? This morning I was dressed all in white with a pair of gold mules to do the vacuuming. I don’t wear tracksuits, or slobsuits as I call them, I just think they’re ugly. It’s just as easy to put on a sexy pair of jeans.
My grandson Jude calls me Glamma – it was my daughter who said, “Oh, Mum, you can’t be Granny, what can you be?” She said, “I know, you’re Glamma!” So Jude has always known me as Glamma.
Being happy is the secret of looking good. I like spending time with real friends and family, and making sure everyone else’s needs are taken care of. But the most important thing for happiness is being healthy. Being healthy is so many things – being balanced with food and drink, with friends, lifestyle, work – health is a huge subject. You can’t be happy if you’re not well. But I also think if you just try to think of other people just a couple of seconds ahead of thinking about yourself, that can make you feel great.
I’m so lucky to have my boyfriend. He’s a doctor, and this time he’s not a toyboy. Although he’s not helping me at all at the moment because being in a relationship is making me fat! I will blame him for my weight, because although he wants me to be slim and he knows it’s better for my heart, I’ve put on an enormous amount of weight through contentment. I’m definitely happy.
Before I met him I didn’t think I wanted to go out with a man ever again. I got a new dog and thought, “I’m going back to dogs and grandchildren and friends and that’s the end of it”. Then suddenly along comes a great love. It was really out of the blue. I would get married again, although I’m not thinking we’re going to or that I’m planning to. My boyfriend is not even slightly interested in marriage. The subject is not up for discussion. But he is terribly romantic – he says beautiful things, writes beautiful things, thinks beautiful things. He’s a romantic.
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