Birds Of A Feather star Lesley Joseph has made a rare family confession as she spoke about how her job affects being a grandmother
Lesley Joseph has candidly confessed to feeling a “tremendous guilt” due to her lack of time spent with her grandchildren. The Birds Of A Feather star, 80, has had a glittering career that spans over six decades.
However, while chatting at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards in London on Sunday – where she was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Theatre and Television award – she admitted she could be more focused on family life.
Lesley, who has two children, Andrew and Elizabeth, from a previous relationship with Carl Littlejohn, rarely speaks about her family commitments. However, she has now revealed the guilt she feels for “not being the grandmother my kids probably expected”.
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She went on to admit her career had somewhat got in the way of her family matters. Discussing having grandkids for the first time, she said: “I’ve never done the school run or babysitting. I just find it hard to say no to acting jobs.”
It’s one of the rare occasions she has opened up on her private life. In 2016, she spoke about losing her mum.
Despite saying it is difficult to lose a parent at a young age as they don’t grow old with you, she also said losing them when you’re older is tough too as you’ve “had them all your life”.
She said: “I had a very close relationship with my mother. She was one of 12, and she was the last of them to die. I talk to her every day, in my head.
“I don’t think you ever lose that – she had a thirst for life Hopefully, touch wood, I’ve got her genes.”
Lesley also recently admitted to the pressure of staying slim. The actress, who has had a hugely successful theatre career following her on-screen antics, spoke to Good Morning Britain’s Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid.
After opening up about her time as Dorien on the iconic sitcom, Richard then asked her about the notion of weight during her time on the show. He questioned whether it was true that she felt she had to be a ‘skinny bean’ for the role.
Lesley responded: “She was [a skinny bean], but I’ve always had to work hard to keep my weight down. Like today, we’ve got an awards ceremony on Sunday, and I’m having to work hard to keep my weight down for that to get into a tight dress.”
As well as Birds Of A Feather, Lesley has appeared on stage in Sister Act: The Musical and The Addams Family. Other touring productions she has starred in include shows such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, while she regularly played the part of Miss Hannigan in Annie.
Next year, from February, she will be seen in a production of Road in Manchester opposite comedienne Lucy Beaumont and former Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati.
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