FOREVER FABULOUS - ‘I DON'T LOVE LUXURY – I PREFER ROUGHING IT'

ACTRESS-TURNED-EXPLORER JOANNA LUMLEY REVEALS SHE’D ALWAYS TRADE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR FOR “RUFTY-TUFTY” ADVENTURES

- CHLOE ALEXANDROU

When we sit down for our video call with Joanna Lumley, the topic is travel as the 75-year-old globetrotter has just completed her latest show, Joanna Lumley’s Great Cities Of The World.

As well as chatting about her recent visits to the European hotspots of Rome, Paris and Berlin, she also lets us in on the moment she found out about becoming a dame and admits she’s not at all as glamorous as she might seem, dubbing £16 a “fortune” to spend on face cream.

“I love slogging and slugging about a bit,” she says before admitting that she’s lazy with her wardrobe and hair – which she cut herself during lockdown.

Here, the Absolutely Fabulous legend shares her philosophy on physical appearances, travel tips and advice for dealing with the paparazzi – should the need ever arise…

Hi Joanna! What was it like to get back out into the world filming?

Although I’d visited Rome, Paris and Berlin before, it was utterly thrilling to go back. Never feel that just because you’ve been to a city, you’ve done it. The more you go back, the more you’ll understand it.

You must know Italy particularly well as we see you flexing your language skills on the show…

You’re so kind – I’m such a faker [Laughs]. Although I can understand a lot of what people say to me, my language is really poor.

You meet paparazzi photographer Umberto Pizzi on your travels. Have you had any memorable encounters with paps?