Bemidorm's Sheila Reid reveals five things she can't live without

1. THEATRE

I was just six when I decided I was going to be an actress but for many years nobody took me seriously.

I was a chubby and unattractive child with crooked teeth and a patch over one eye.

Nevertheless I was not to be deterred, despite nobody in my family being in showbusiness.

While my mum was a very talented pianist and my dad enjoyed amateur dramatics, they were both too shy to ever make a career out of performing.

To be honest, like a lot of other actors, I can be a bit shy too but part of the appeal is being able to turn into someone completely different as soon as you set foot on a stage.

In 1965, when I was starting out, I was lucky enough to appear opposite Sir Laurence Olivier in Othello.It really did feel like a dream come true.

2. MY GODCHILDREN

I have been blessed with two wonderful goddaughters and one gorgeous godson, who is now a barrister.

He always makes me laugh when he calls, as his voice booms down the line: “Hello, Godmother.”

My godchildren are the children of my dearest friends and in the last few years I’ve become a kind of god-grandmother, which is a lot of fun.

3. YOGA SHED

At the bottom of my garden I have a lovely old blue shed, which is where I escape from the world to practise my yoga.

I have been a yogi for more than 30 years and for a long time was a member of an expensive club.

Yet because of work commitments I kept missing classes and it began to feel like a waste of money.

So now I just use my shed and, if time allows, I like to do a bit of yoga every day.

Over the years I have created something of my own style, a kind of a cross between ashtanga and hot yoga, minus all the complicated moves.

I don’t have long enough legs to tie myself up in knots.

4. MASSAGE

I am very lucky that my husband Terry is a body therapist, which means that I can have a good massage whenever I want.

In my opinion, regular massages really do make the world a better place.

Not only are they incredibly relaxing but they infuse you with energy and provide a safe and sometimes spiritual haven from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

5. TRAVEL

I am an adventurer and love the thrill of discovering new places and seeing how other cultures live.

As a child I spent some time living in India and it is always so lovely to go back there.

I think it’s one of the most magical places in the world. And then there’s Bali with its lotus flowers and serene, smiling people, Greece with its amazing history and beaches, and Peru with its mountains and rainforest.

I am so lucky to have seen so much of the world but I will never tire of exploring.

Terry and I are off to Vietnam for the first time soon and I can’t wait for another adventure.