‘Being attractive is about CONFIDENCE AND A VITALITY!'

Jenny Agutter reveals why she cares much more about personality than appearance…

- HAYLEY MINN

Jenny Agutter has lived out most of her adult life on screen, from the moment she starred as Bobbie in the 1970 hit film The Railway Children, at just 17 years old. She has also spent many years in Hollywood, but that doesn’t mean she’s been affected by the famously vain movie industry.

The 68-year-old actress, who most recently played Sister Julienne in the Call The Midwife Christmas special, says that she is much more interested in personality than image.

Jenny, who moved from Somerset to the States at the age of 21 for 16 years, says, ‘In LA, there was a lot of focus on the way one looks, and the way you appeared to be. I did all the photographic shoots and things that my press agent said were important to do. But, looking back, I just don’t get it, because it’s not really me.

‘That highly glossed, very made-up image is not very much to do with what one is, as an actor. It’s to do with the way that people want to imagine you.’

Despite this outlook, Jenny, who now lives in London and Cornwall with her husband, Johan Tham, says she does think ‘looking one’s best is important’, and she enjoys getting dressed up for red-carpet events, parties and photoshoots. But she always likes to make sure she’s not being made to feel like she’s ‘pretending to be someone else’.