Balance February 18 - 29

HOW TO FEEL
FABULOUS
AT 40

PHOTOGRAHPY: ©RANKIN. HAIR: LUKE BENSON USING GHD & ORIBE. MAKE-UP: LAUREN GRIFFIN USING MAC. STYLING: ORSOLYA SZABO. ANNA WEARS: GREY CHECKED SUIT
BY SANDRO, GREEN VELVET SUIT BY ROCKINS, JUMPER BY BELLA FREUD. PROPS: VELVET CURTAINS, FROM £55, NEXT; DARCEY DESK, IN WALNUT AND OAK, £399, MADE.COM

TIME IS SO
PRECIOUS
AND I HAVE
SO MUCH
TO DO

BATHS
I love baths, particularly
with Epsom Salts which
just sooth your stresses
away. Plus Liquid Yoga
(£26, mioskincare.co.uk)
- an amazing restorative
you add to the bath.

MACA POWDER
I discovered this in LA
when I had bad period
pain and it's fabulous,
but I was warned it can
make you highly fertile. I
recommended it to two
women I knew who were
trying to get pregnant
and within three months
they both were.

DOGS
England. So I had a career in America and it was
going well but I would have had to make that choice:
Stay in America and Gracie doesn't see her father
or you go back to England. And actually that's been
really, really good for me. I've never regretted that.
'There's never been bitterness because both of
those men are utterly exceptional and I love them.
They're very, very special men and being with them
was incredible in very different, enriching ways.'
She reveals that her last boyfriend was not an
actor but won't say whether she is currently dating.

KEEPING IT FRIEL
'I have to keep some things private,' she says. 'It's
all about circumstance and timings and what you
want out of your life and where you are and there
are factors I'm not willing to divulge.'
She continues: 'When I was younger, I thought I
had to answer everything. I don't. Relationships
are difficult. You just have to accept that.'
She's clearly happier talking about Gracie, who is
showing some interest in following in the footsteps
of her parents.
'I've said to her, nepotism will never be
involved,' she says. 'Mummy and daddy can't
help.' Not that Anna seems worried if her daughter
does go into the business. She comes across as a
confident mother.

'They talk about Positive Mental Attitude,' she
muses, 'and I have never worried about the kind
of child I would have because I had such a
wonderful childhood and amazing parents. I knew
my child would be incredible because all she's ever
gonna see and feel is love, and she's going to feel so
protected. And that's what she has been.'

LIFE BEGINS...
Turning 40 wasn't a problem. She threw a pyjama
party (what else?) for her friends and eked out the
celebrations for a year. She considers the future with
equanimity. Would she consider plastic surgery?
'I don't know. It depends how I age,' she replies.
'I don't think I need to think about that at the
moment, but I'll keep an open mind.
'As you get older,' she continues, 'you get more
confident and learn who you are, but you think,
"F**k, I'm half way through. I could be more than
half way through. Time is so precious and I have so
much to do. When they bury me, I'll be going down
saying "No, I'm not ready, I've still got to do this!"' B
The second series of Marcella, for which Anna's
first series performance won her best actress at
the International Emmy Awards, begins on ITV
this month. Watch our intimate, exclusive video
interview with Anna at balance.media/anna.

February 2018 BA LA N CE

I do a dog share with
one of my best friends.
We came up with the
idea while doing dry
January last year - you
have so much free time!
I didn't understand the
unconditional love they
give you. It's like if you're
a kid and given a teddy
bear and it comes alive.
Dogs are like that.

TURMERIC
I've been taking turmeric
for years. The best trick
for sleep is apple cider
vinegar in hot water with
really strong turmeric.
They work wonders.

DITCH PALM OIL
Palm oil is in so many
things. The thing they
put in our food is the
same thing they put in
motorbike engines. Do
you really want that to
go into your body?

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Balance February 18