LAILA ROUASS

My mother's incredibly independent and she brought us up to be the same. She had five daughters and two sons and only allowed one mirror in the house because she didn't want us to be obsessed with our looks or weight.

Yeah, I love shopping and clothes but I don't live to shop.

I have more than 100 pairs of Jimmy Choos and I feel very guilty about it.

I want my daughter to grow up with memories of home-cooked meals, just as I did as one of seven children by Moroccan parents.

I'm a single parent and it just wouldn't have been possible for me to carry on in 'Primeval' once filming of the show switched to Dublin for ten months.

I'm over trying to be younger or look younger.

When I was modeling, I'd go for castings in a pair of really tight, leopard-print trousers, like jeans, but with a velvet finish - very Rod Stewart, but also very sexy.

It was quite emotional leaving 'Holby' but it was the right time. I was working long hours and wanted to spend more time with my daughter.

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 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 thought the Charleston would be a bit like the jive, but it isn't really.

My social life's moved up a few notches since moving back to London from Surrey because I'm near friends and family again and I'm really enjoying it.

I love salad, but I have to have something 'solid' with it because I don't feel satisfied without carbs.

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.

I come from a working class family. We barely had anything.

I can't stand the smell of beer.

I'm not in a rush to walk down the aisle.

Time management is really important.

My biggest financial fear is dying and not leaving enough to see my daughter through to adulthood and financial independence.

I tried Botox once and I looked demented.

A lot of mums are torn between their work and missing out on important milestones in their children's lives.

I'm not a marriage person. I've realized that it's not for me, the commitment and all that.

When I was younger I used to volunteer at the Mother Teresa charities in India.

You have to eat well, drink enough water and get enough sleep to look your best, and no fancy creams will substitute that.

I grew up with strong women around me. My grandmother came to this country not able to speak the language, on her own with seven kids. And she got through it.