'In my head, I feel like I'm between 28 and 32'

IT'S A FUNNY OLD WORLD | THIS WEEK'S COLUMNIST Emmerdale actor Susan Cookson

- SUE CRAWFORD

"My mother-in-law has a fabulous saying, 'There may be snow on the roof, but the fire's still burning.' I'm 59, but I really don't feel it. In my head, I feel like I'm somewhere between 28 and 32. Then I catch sight of myself in the mirror and think, 'Good heavens, who is that!' I like to fly the flag for the older woman.

In Emmerdale, I play nurse Wendy Posner, who's having an affair with Dr Liam Cavanagh, who is a good few years younger than her. There's still more of an acceptance of an older man with a younger woman than the other way round, but why? If two people come together and there's a connection, then so be it.