SUPER TROUPER - ‘I'D RATHER GO OUT FOR PASTA WITH MY SON THAN ON A DATE'

ACTRESS CLAIRE SWEENEY TELLS OK! ABOUT HER “NON-EXISTENT” LOVE LIFE NOT BEING A WORRY ENJOYING BEING AND HER LATEST STINT IN THEATRE

- ADEJUMOKE ILORI

Claire Sweeney is finally embracing her fifties after some initial jitters about entering the new decade of her life. The actress and singer, who celebrated her big 5-0 last April, reveals she didn’t want to tell anyone her age at first but is now in a better place than she was at 30.

It’s no surprise Claire has had a change of heart when it comes to enjoying this new era. She is a proud mum to son Jaxon, seven, who she describes as a “sensitive and caring” child. And professionally, she continues to dominate the theatre world.

Claire is due to take on a stint hosting a show at Proud Cabaret and is currently starring in the UK tour of 9 To 5: The Musical, as Violet Newstead – the part previously played by Louise Redknapp.

“I’ve loved this show for ages,” she says. “It’s great to get back into theatre.”

But things aren’t going quite as swimmingly on the dating front. Claire admits her love life is “non-existent” but insists she’s fine with that.

Here, she talks about how she juggles work and motherhood, her thoughts on plastic surgery and why finding a man isn’t a priority...

Hi, Claire! You turned 50 last year. How did you feel about the milestone?

When I turned 50, I wasn’t going to tell anyone – I couldn’t say the word. It seemed so old but I decided to embrace it. I’d rather be where I am in my life now than when I was 30. When I was 30, I was skinnier, I was probably earning a bit more money and I was younger. But I am very happy and I’ve got my boy. I’m a stone heavier but, you know, that can come off. I am very blessed.

How have your fifties been so far?