'As a woman, it's dangerous to think you look good': Amandaland's Lucy Punch reflects on female beauty standards and 'ghastly' tweakments

The actress has some unfiltered words about the impact of the beauty industry on women

Lucy Punch attends the premiere of AMC Networks' "The Audacity" at Linwood Dunn Theatre
(Image credit: Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)

Lucy Punch has made a name for herself as the delusional, social climbing, appearance-obsessed Amanda in the brilliant Motherland spin-off, Amandaland.

In the run up to Amandaland returning for a second series on May 6, Lucy has shared that viewers often believe the actress will be just like her on-screen counterpart - but that couldn't be further from the truth.

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She does have a caveat though, adding, "I think anyone can do whatever the hell they like. But personally – no," when it comes to having invasive procedures carried out on her face.

Lucy Punch as Amanda in Amandaland

(Image credit: BBC/Merman/Natalie Seery)

In fact, Lucy believes the beauty industry is designed to keep women feeling insecure, and a confident woman poses a big threat - it's an industry that needs to keep women dissatisfied with their appearance to survive, whatever mental fallout this has.

"‘You get to the point where, as a woman especially, you realise it’s in nobody else’s interest for you to feel good the way you are," she says.

The actress continues, "If you think, 'I look great as I am,' That’s great for you. It’s not great for anyone else. "You are fine and beautiful as you are - it doesn’t matter," Lucy says honestly, adding, "The way someone looks is the least interesting thing about anyone."

With more open insight, she says, "Just never forget, it’s only in your interest to feel good about yourself. You’re not going to feel better because of a mascara or a treatment or whatever."

Despite her feelings towards female beauty standards, the actress still has her own insecurities about her appearance, as a lot of the most confident women probably do also.

"I’m not confident," she reveals, concluding, "It’s just realising that it’s actually rather 'dangerous' to go, 'Oh! I think I look fine, actually.'"

Amandaland series 2 airs on BBC One and iPlayer from May 6.

Lucy Wigley
Entertainment Writer

Lucy is a multi-award nominated writer and blogger with seven years’ experience writing about entertainment, parenting and family life. Lucy worked as a freelance writer and journalist at the likes of PS and moms.com, before joining GoodtoKnow as an entertainment writer, and then as news editor. The pull to return to the world of television was strong, and she was delighted to take a position at woman&home to once again watch the best shows out there, and tell you why you should watch them too.

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