Quotes from Laila Rouass

I find that a small sacrifice such as switching off my phone and blocking out work helps me stay balanced.

Men huddle in a corner and talk about me, rather than walking up to me and chatting me up.

When somebody openly talks about having depression, it's a very brave thing to do.

My mum, who comes from Goa, wanted us to develop our minds when we were kids, so she used to turn the electricity off at weekends so we couldn't sit watching the telly.

I'm not one of those people who escapes to the countryside at weekends.

I wouldn't say I am practicing Muslim - I don't go to the mosque or anything, but it's part of my identity.

I hadn't planned to have kids, I didn't even know I was pregnant until four months in.

I'm careful about what I eat, but I do allow myself cheat days.

I tried Botox once and I looked demented.

Sometimes I'll put on a Zig Ziglar tape: he's a motivational speaker who is really funny and really American. I know I should do the things he says, but I'm too cynical.

I'm half Moroccan and half Indian so I have quite an adventurous taste in food.

I have no medical knowledge whatsoever so playing a surgeon on 'Holby' has been a real eye opener!

When you have kids your priorities change. What you are looking for in a partner becomes more complex.

Being in your 30s is about discovering yourself and your body and enjoying who you are.

Ronnie's lovely with his children, we see them often, and he's a fabulous step-father to Inez. He's such a good male role model for her and they're friends who laugh together as well.

I'd be scared of hitting 60 and looking like a granny when the child's just in their teens. I'm happy I had my daughter when I was in my 30s.

The make-up on 'Footballers' Wives' is unbelievable - there's loads of fake tan.

'Primeval' is very similar to 'Footballers' Wives' - it's pure fantasy.

I did 'Footballer's Wives' for two-and-a-half seasons and I asked to be written out.

I come from a background where bigger women are appreciated. After all, you can't belly dance with a flat stomach, so my ideal body would be curvy, womanly and voluptuous.

I've got a scar on my shin from when I got shot in New York when I was 17. I was outside a McDonald's and somebody shot a gun from a car, and the bullet grazed my leg.

But I find it so difficult to go out and be like 'Hey, I'm a sexpot.' At home I'm just a mum with food down her top!

I'm going to hide - I always do on my birthday, I never celebrate birthdays.

Time management is really important.