Lisa Maxwell, 55, will soon be heading on a UK tour of Calendar Girls, alongside cast mates Sarah Jane Buckley, Sue Devaney, Julia Hills, Judy Holt and Lesley Jospeh. Ahead of hitting the road, the former EastEnders actress has opened up about the moment she revealed her age live on-air and admitted she had been “worried” about reaching the big milestone. Lisa explained it was the powerful words from American broadcaster Oprah Winfrey, 65, who enabled her to gain the confidence to declare her age “loud and proud”. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, she divulged: “I was on Loose Women and we had Oprah Winfrey come on.
“I was just about to turn 50 and I hadn’t really told anybody my real age.”
During the show, which aired in 2016, Oprah chatted with the Loose Women panellists about owning their age.
Lisa explained: “I remember we came out on the show about being worried for turning 50. And Oprah said, ‘Oh come on. There are a lot of who people who aren’t here who would give anything to say they’re 50’.
“‘Say it loud and proud. I am 50.’”
The former Loose Women star continued: “And she [Oprah] took my hand and told me to say it. I thought, she’s right. My body works and I’m really lucky.”
Lisa’s admission comes after she also opened up about body confidence as she strips off each night for the stage play, Calendar Girls.
Speaking about the “nerve-wracking” moment, the Celebrity MasterChef contestant admitted she was not “100 per cent comfortable” with posing in the nude.
“I was really self-conscious at first. When we did the first photoshoot for the [Calendar Girls] poster that was really nerve-wracking,” the actress explained.
“I was really worried to stand there naked and feel comfortable.”
Lisa continued: “If I’m honest I’m still not 100 per cent comfortable every night. I don’t have a bad figure but it’s all about how you feel about yourself.
“The one thing it has done has liberated me slightly.”
The musical tells the true story of Yorkshire’s own Calendar Girls, who come together as a community to raise money after a pal’s husband dies from cancer.
The Women’s Institute pose nude for a calendar photoshoot and become a media sensation.
Speaking about the show, Lisa explained: “Every now and again I think I’m actually naked on stage and we’re doing it eight nights a week.
“But we get naked for a specific reason. It’s not about perfect bodies, it’s about healthy bodies.”
She added: “It’s about being generous of spirit and doing something in your community.”
Meanwhile, it’s the 50th anniversary this year for the charity Centrepoint, who are famous for their Sleep Outs for which Lisa is one of the longest serving ambassadors.
She is the supporting their campaign this year and will be at the London Sleep Out on November 21 and is hosting the Manchester Sleep Out on November 28.
Calendar Girls The Musical’s tickets are out now.