WWW.OK.CO.UK 7‘IAVOIDTHE
REDCARPET
ATALLCOSTS’
with her film producer husband of 19
years, Kris Thykier, along with daughter
Matilda, 13, and son Arthur, eight.
The family live in London, and
born and bred city girl Claudia has
absolutely no plans to up sticks to
more rural parts like her TV pal Tess
Daly. ‘I’ve been to the countryside
twice. I didn’t like it. All that green...
I don’t even have a garden at home,’
she says in that deadpan way of hers
which makes you
question if she’s
really pulling your
leg or not!
Starting out her
career presenting
travel shows when
she was just 20,
Claudia, who also
has her own radio
show, is now one
of TV’s biggest
stars. Last year she
also became an
ambassador for
No7 Laboratories,
who have
developed a
range of rapid,
non-invasive
skin-transforming
solutions
for Boots.
Here, the
47-year-old
star opens up
about her mirror ban, the benefits of
working with women and being an
embarrassing mum...You look great in a suit, Claudia.
What do you love about them?
Trouser suits make me feel... not
masculine, that’s the wrong word.
They make me feel like me. I like the
androgynous look. I don’t like girlie
clothes and I was worried you might
ask me to wear a floral, whimsy maxi
dress today with an open-toe sandal. I
mean, I’ve just been sick in my mouth!
And possibly a bolero – urgh! I don’t
believe in summer as an idea. I like a
big coat, knee-high boots, jeans and
layers. I don’t like beetroot or salad.
I like stew and chips and shepherd’s
pie and port.Do you even own a pair of shorts?
Don’t be ridiculous! The last time I
wore shorts was on a sports day when
I was 11. Even then I knew this must
never happen again. Summer clothes
are too fanciful and visually offensive!Are you a big fan of the high heels
you wore in our shoot?
I love heels. I either like them
incredibly high or non-existent. I can’t
do a mid-heel.If you’re feeling dowdy and unsexy,
what outfit from your wardrobe
improves your mood?
Nothing. I love feeling unsexy. I’m
usually playing bridge in my readingglasses, that’s as sexy as it gets! I don’t
like bright clothes, paisley or a cold-
shoulder top, that’s offensive. I wear a
lot of black [demonstrated by the fact
she arrives at our shoot in black skinny
trousers and a black top].Have you made any disastrous outfit
choices for red carpet appearances?
Oh loads, but I avoid the red carpet
at all costs. If I’m there it’s only
because a friend
has made me
go. I don’t really
think about what
I’m going to
wear and I don’t
borrow clothes
from designers
and steam stuff.
I just open my
wardrobe and
wear the same
old c**p.You have a
signature look.
Are you ever
tempted to
try something
different?
No, I have such a
uniform in terms
of clothes and
my face. I always
have eyeliner in
the house. There
might be no bread, we might be out
of milk, but there’s always eyeliner. I
don’t think I’d get employed if I did
a pastel eye and a side parting. People
would say: ‘Get someone else for
the job!’Who or what inspired your look?
Do you remember a singer called
Wendy James who was in a group
called Transvision Vamp? My parents
didn’t let me watch much telly but I
was allowed to watch Top Of The Pops
and I saw her and it’s instilled in my
head – that’s the way we should look.
Orange face, black eyes, white lips. It’s
like painting by numbers.How do you feel when you look in
the mirror?
Repulsed! I think, why is Meatloaf
looking back at me? My mum [former
Sunday Express editor Eve Pollard]
raised me in a home without mirrors.
She’s a staunch feminist and wanted
us to know that what we look like is
the least interesting thing about us.
I’m passing that idea on to my children
and we don’t have mirrors at home
either. I grew up not worrying about
my looks and I still don’t mind my face.
I’m confident without make-up on and
I only wear it for work.What do you love about your
generation of women?
We’re funny, we haven’t given up,
but we also know what’s important- family, friends and experiences,