We're lucky if we get to 50 and feel healthy, fit and well...

SILENT WITNESS ACTRESS EMILIA FOX TELLS LISA SALMON WHAT'S LOVELY ABOUT REACHING THE MILESTONE BIRTHDAY

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EMILIA FOX saw turning 50 as a significant milestone in her life - but not a scary one.

The actress, who's starred in the crime drama Silent Witness for an impressive 21 years, is as busy with work as ever.

She is happily "sandwiched" between a teenage daughter and ageing parents, yet has more energy than ever and says she's looking forward to the next half of her life.

"Do you know what's lovely about turning 50?" she asks. "It's seen in a very different way to what it was, and people are really recognising that it's a time when we still want to be busy - we have the choice.

"I think people do see 50 as a significant milestone in life - my goodness, we're lucky if we get to 50 and feel healthy and fit and well.

"I think 50 is a great time to reflect on what's happened in the first half of your life and what you'd like the second half to look like - I remember really thinking about that on my 50th birthday.

"Turning 50 is not like the closing of a chapter, it's the opening of a new one, which is full of energy and possibility, and I think that's a really positive message."

Acting is in Emilia's blood - she's the daughter of actors Edward Fox and Joanna David, sister of actor Freddie Fox, her uncle is the actor James Fox and her cousins are the actors Jack, Laurence, and Lydia Fox. She's not letting age dampen her passion for the profession at all.

"Work-wise, it seems to be really busy, and I feel very lucky to be working at this time, because people are celebrating and writing for women of all ages now, and life experience seems to be more interesting to write about and see on screen or on stage.

"And that seems to be recognised in a different way to, say, my mum's generation - she's an actress, and it's been much harder for her getting older in the business."