I don't WORRY what people think ANY MORE

The unassuming and brilliantly funny Ruth Jones on health, big regrets, her moving new novel, By Your Side, and why 'the final episode of Gavin & Stacey was a beautiful ending to a wonderful journey'

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Ruth Jones is expertly playing a grand piano inside a £10 million location apartment in the heart of the City of London, which we've hired for today's woman&home shoot. She looks like the ultimate Hollywood star, dressed in a stunning ruffled Needle & Thread dress, with perfectly blow-dried hair and flawless make-up. Then she stops playing and starts chatting with some of the crew, and her trademark Welsh tones are unmistakable. It's as though the spell has broken and the real (very un-showbiz) Ruth is back in the room. And that's just how she likes it.

'To be completely honest with you, I don't like getting dressed up,' she laughs, looking at the rails of gorgeous clothes. 'I always want to feel comfortable, and >> I feel slightly guilty that lots of people would love to do this kind of shoot. These clothes are stunning, but do I dress up like this at home? No, I'm very lazy. But I do enjoy shoots and meeting lovely people. Look at this amazing apartment. I feel like I'm on top of the world looking at all the sights.'

The 58-year-old began acting in 1989, and has become one of the nation's best-known stage and screen icons thanks to roles in shows like Fat Friends, Nighty Night and Stella, as well as films, plays and the West End.

Of course, we can't fail to mention Gavin & Stacey, the beloved series she co-wrote with her close friend James Corden. The duo are set to release a Gavin & Stacey book later this year, following the massive success of the show's 2024 finale, which was the UK's most-watched Christmas Day show for 23 years.

For now, Ruth is very much focusing on the release of her fourth novel, By Your Side, a powerful, funny and moving tale about love, friendship and 'how everyone deserves a dignified farewell'.