‘I don't people-please ANY MORE'

Dawn French opens up about finally making peace with herself and talks about why she is ready for a fresh start

- ROBYN MORRIS

Dawn French has never been one to mince her words, so it might come as a surprise to learn that up until recently, she was prone to people-pleasing.

But since entering her 60s three years ago, Dawn admits she’s finally ‘settling into her skin’ and no longer cares what others think of her. ‘I’m in my stride,’ she says.

The comedian, who is married to Mark Bignell, has just sold her plush Cornwall home and is ready to embrace a new chapter, which will include living a more simplistic, peaceful lifestyle.

‘I accept myself’

Dawn says that the ageing process has finally provided her with the self-confidence she lacked in her youth. ‘I spent a lot of my life up until now people-pleasing and trying to work out what’s required of me by others. I’m settling into my skin now,’ she told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour podcast.

‘I kind of take some ownership of the person I genuinely am.’ And she’s even embracing the downsides to getting older. ‘It’s all about acceptance, including accepting my rather annoying arthritic knee,’ she jokes. ‘I’m not going to run a marathon. I’m not going to win