Quotes from Tamzin Outhwaite

My mum was the worst time-keeper, and she never worried about the house being spotless, so it was always the place where all my mates wanted to hang out.

My default-setting Italian recipes that I always fall back on are the ones that we had as kids, like spaghetti vongole, which is tomato and clams with spaghetti.

If I grow older like my mum, I'll be happy. She's never touched her face. She has laughter lines but looks lovely.

Television is very instant. Theatre is much more free, but you are very much on your own up there on stage and in control of your own performance.

It's tough working as a single parent, but I'm lucky enough to have chunks of time when I'm at home and a huge circle of friends and family, although my biggest extravagance is child care.

If there is a snobbery, then they haven't been on set to see how a show like 'EastEnders' works. Because I know for a fact that some of my favourite actors are still not capable of doing what these guys do.

So many people are focused on reaching the top of an imaginary ladder that they don't enjoy the climb.

Have you ever been in love? Stay well clear. It leaves you very bitter and very twisted.

I juice beetroots, carrots, celery, pineapples, or anything in my fridge that's left over. I just chuck it all in - it's very good for cleansing your system.

I've always had a thing about Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, and Imelda Staunton. I'm hoping to follow in their footsteps.

When I came out of school, my mum was one of the youngest mums waiting at the gate. She was the cool mum on the block.

Sometimes it's more tiring being at home with your child than it is being at work! But I thrive on variety, so if you can get a good balance in your life, then I think that's the key.

I have Italian heritage, so I'm keen to go over for a few months with the girls and soak up the culture and the food. I'd like us all to learn Italian together as a family - it's something I've been saying for years.

I love the idea of solar panels, but they are very expensive. I hope, as living sustainably becomes the norm, they will become more accessible.

In my head, that climb up the career ladder just doesn't exist. I feel I've achieved everything I set out to achieve, as far as work goes.

People seem surprised by what a giggly mess I can become.

With TV shows that film in London, you're pretty much around for your kids, so that's good.

I like to have a reason to change my hair. I'm not very good at saying, 'I think I'm going to do something else with my hair now.' I like a character to lead it that way.

While the kids are little, I want to maintain a job, keep a roof over their heads, and make them proud. I want them to have good female role models in their life.

A stable and happy mum leads to stable and happy kids. It all has a knock-on effect.

The idea of going back to school and revising for exams would be hellish. As an actor, my form of revising is learning scenes, but to start going through biology, chemistry, and all of those sciences would be just a nightmare.

Once you get into your 40s, you're no longer leading-lady age. Generally, those roles get offered to women in their 20s and 30s.

If I don't do a bit of theatre at least once a year, I feel depleted and starved.

I don't want to be moaning about getting older or being overweight. I just want to focus on being happy and healthy.