Zoe Wanamaker

Zoë Wanamaker, CBE, is probably best known for her role as Susan Harper in My Family, and as Madam Hooch in the Harry Potter films. Zoë married actor Gawn Grainger in 1994.

My parents were both very strong personalities. I'm a mix of both. My mother was adorable, a great giggler. My father was very strong and could be quite frightening. I'm the middle of three sisters.

On My Family
I do get recognised in the street as Susan from My Family. I'm quite different to Susan. I suppose I am a bit of a control freak but then I don't see Susan so much as a control freak as a control enthusiast. We're similar in that we both love our husbands.

I think one of the reasons the show is so popular is because it offers a sense of hope. Susan and Ben have been together for such a long time and, despite the fact that they bicker all the time, they clearly love each other and have great sex, which is rare in a British comedy. I think people identify with it.

Never in a million years did I think My Family would be such a hit – none of us did. Robert and I have a wonderful relationship. We work very differently, but very well together.

On her homelife
Our London home has always been a place where our kids and their friends could come and go – and it still is.

I lost both my parents within four years of each other. My father's death from prostate cancer in 1993 was tragic. He never complained about pain. He was a fighter. By the time he was ready to die he wasn't able to die in the way that he wanted to, which seemed an outrage to me. And that is why I am a supporter of an organisation called Dignity in Dying.

My mother gave up after my father died. She felt there was no reason to live. She wanted to die and four years later she did.

I do feel like an orphan. After my father died, I felt like half my life was over. I was 40-something and I realised it was time I spent the next 20 years or so having a good time rather than having a bad time. And so I got married. So after my father died, I committed for the first time.

Gawn and I were friends initially. His wife died of cancer and so, naturally, that meant we were able to empathise with each other. It was something that he had gone through before and I was lucky enough that he was around when I was going through it.

On her passions
I have lots of passions – gardens, art, music and reading. I have eclectic taste and read a huge variety of books. I'm very catholic in my music taste: I like Amy Winehouse, David Bowie, Queen… and Jools Holland. I also love classical music. La Traviata makes me cry.

When it comes to giving back, I am a strong supporter of Oxfam, Amnesty International and Dignity in Dying.

I absolutely hate clothes shopping, though I love clothes. It's my idea of heaven to be handed things to wear.

I'm enjoying getting older. One by-product is that I have stopped trying to be a size eight – it's never going to happen! I like my food and my alcohol too much and I don't want to punish myself. When I was younger I really thought I needed to be thin. Now all I want is to be fit and healthy.

How would I like to be remembered? With a sense of humour. Well actually, I'd just like to be remembered.

Look through our gallery of gorgeous cover stars from Zoë Wanamaker to Kylie Minogue and Helen Mirren.

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