My Main Ambition Is To Get My Raised Beds Planted!

Dame Julie Walters talks to Robyn Morris about why it takes “something special” for her to leave her country home for work nowadays…

- Robyn Morris

She’s been in the industry for over 40 years, so it’s no wonder Julie Walters has become picky when it comes to taking on new acting jobs.

But while she’s reluctant to take on any hard-hitting roles at 69, Julie admits she’ll never retire fully. “I’ll always do little bits,” she says.

The actress’s latest role in Wild Rose is playing a struggling Glaswegian mum to Rose-Lynn, a young aspiring country singer, played by Jessie Buckley, who Julie describes as “such a talent”.

Rose-Lynn was recently released from jail, during which time Julie’s character, Marion, had been looking after her two young children – and she’s not keen for her daughter to run off to Nashville to pursue her country singing dreams.

For Julie, relating to her character is something that’s extremely important to her, and this one really hit home, considering her own mother wanted her to be a nurse rather than an actress. >>woman&home IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU! 13

“I understand her totally,” Julie says. “It all seems utterly ridiculous. It did to my mother. ‘An actress? Don’t be silly, you’re watching too much television.’ But what’s touching about it is they evolve as people, they begin to understand – we need a bit more of that in the world, I’d say.”

Julie, who lives on a farm in West Sussex with her husband, Grant Roffey, tells us all about her plans to take some time out this year, her thoughts on how Hollywood is changing and her secret to a happy marriage…