Fay Ripley Exclusive Interview
The actress and star of the latest Tesco ads reveals
why she's turned her hand to cookery
My love of food comes from when I was little.
My parents separated when I was two years old – my dad remarried a German lady and my mum an Italian guy, so I was getting varied tastes from a very young age.
When I was in my twenties, my friends and I were all desperate to be middle aged.
While other people were going to discos and some taking drugs, I was busy trying to make a decent soufflé to impress people while in turn they would show off with their fabulous risottos.
I kind of lost my passion for food a little when I had kids.
I became obsessed with them eating healthily. Everything had to be organic and whizzed to within an inch of its life. But I forgot about our food and why I loved cooking it in the first place. I wrote my cook book because I needed it, so I wasn't cooking separate meals for us and the children.
I was so worried when I went out on my first date with my husband that I'd make a fool of myself and tell him I loved him
I believe it's important to give children stability in life.
As a child I was so scatty that in my adult life I forced myself to be organised. I started writing lists as I found it comforting. Even now when things are in chaos, I don't feel safe or happy.
I have to fight the urge to plump cushions.
I've inherited this trick from my mum. I'm a bit obsessesive about the whole tidy house thing. The cleaner it is, the happier I am. My sister tells me to chill out about it, and she's right.
My childhood was slightly diverse, but it was happy.
I grew up in Surrey with lots of brothers and sisters. Dad was a businessman and my mum an antiques dealer. I don't really remember my parents being together but I always knew that I was loved.
The reason I became an actress was because my drama teacher encouraged me.
Had my geography, or maths, teachers boosted my confidence then perhaps I would have been a map reader or an accountant.
My husband (Australian actor Daniel Lapaine) is extremely handsome and funny.
I met him in London through friends 10 years ago. I couldn't believe my luck that he was even talking to me. My mate fancied him too and I told her that we should both forget it as he was definitely out of our league.
When Dan asked me out for dinner I thought it was a joke.
So I turned him down. All I could think was why would he want to go out with me? He's too gorgeous. I must have been feeling insecure at the time. And I think I was protecting myself because he was so amazing – I was worried I'd make a fool of myself and tell him I loved him on the first date. But he pursued me and didn't give up.
I never imagined not having children, and I'm grateful that I could.
My daughter, Parker, is six, and my son, Sonny, is two, and both of them are gorgeous – obviously I think they are the best children in the universe. I would hate it if they wanted to be actors because the odds are terrible. Only about two per cent of us get work.
Before I got my break in Cold Feet, I had various horrible jobs.
I sold time-share and men's shirts door to door, and I was a kids' clown called ‘Miss Chief'. I also worked in an office for a day but got the sack for falling asleep at my desk at 10.30 in the morning.
It really irritates me when actors say they don't like being recognised.
You were in a movie, what do you expect? If someone comes up to me while I'm in a restaurant with my family and says, ‘I love that show you're in,' it's fine. What does annoy me though is when people think I can't hear them and say things like, ‘Blimey, she's much shorter than I thought. And hasn't she got a big nose?'
Fay's Family Food, published by Penguin/Michael Joseph, and other great books are available to buy at www.tesco.com/entertainment