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... I do feel strongly that it is deeply insulting the way older women are portrayed. If you watch TV or listen to the radio for a week, you would get the impression that everyone over the age of 60 has no control over their faculties. If it was any other group of people being portrayed like that, people would be up in arms. But because it is older women, nobody ever says anything.

"TV is the worst. In the past, all ages were represented. Now even silver-haired old judges have jailbait on their arms. But I can't complain. I've had a lovely career, and as an actor all you can do is hope that people keep on offering the roles. I'll totter on as long as they keep coming. Actually I better not say totter - it makes me sound like an old crone.

On her early days in repertory theatre: I was in more plays in a single year than some actors will perform in their entire careers. It was my education. We weren't spoiled or indulged. It was very hard work, and the paying ­customer came first. It was expected that they would hear every word, even if they were sitting far from the stage. If you were warned for inaudibility on Wednesday and still couldn't be heard on Thursday, you'd be sacked on Friday. You had to learn quickly.

There are some actors of my generation who will perform when the fridge light comes on, but not me. I envy them their passion, but I don't have it and I never had. As far as I'm concerned, acting is a job. Oh, it's a lovely, lovely job - but it's a job, and one I drifted into.

If you watch TV or listen to the radio for a week, you would get the impression that everyone over the age of 60 has no control over their faculties. I don't want us to be treated with kid gloves, but a fraction of respect would come in handy.