Amelia Bullmore: ‘I met my husband doing Romeo and Juliet. We weren’t the leads – it wasn’t that tidy’

Born in London, Amelia Bullmore, 62, studied drama at Manchester University. In 1990, she became a regular on Coronation Street and her later TV credits include I’m Alan Partridge, Ashes to Ashes, Twenty Twelve, Happy Valley and Riot Women. She appeared in and wrote episodes of the long-running series Scott & Bailey and also wrote for This Life. In 2005, her first play, Mammals, co-won the Susan Smith Blackburn award. From 10 to 31 October she stars in Margaret Atwood’s play The Penelopiad at York Theatre Royal. She is married to actor Paul Higgins, has two daughters and lives in London.

When were you happiest?
I’m often very happy when I’m in – or just out of – the sea.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Chipping in, overtalking.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Not being direct.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
Gossiping about someone and it getting back to them.

Aside from property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?
Holidays. We had an amazing splash-out in Venice at Christmas. It was the first year without both my mum and dad and it seemed a good idea not to attempt to do the old version without key players.

What is your most treasured possession?
A necklace my mum gave me when I was 14.

What would your superpower be?
To be able to split in two to, for example, make a pot of soup while finishing off a bit of work.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I’ve mostly got the hang of it but, if it’s no trouble, could I please have longer legs and a staggering mane?

If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?
Several postal deliveries a day.

What does love feel like?
All that’s required.

Who would play you in the film of your life?
It would never get greenlit, so we don’t need to worry about casting.

What is your most unappealing habit?
Attacking my cuticles.

Who is your celebrity crush?
Alan Shearer. My husband calls me when he’s on TV, which is kind but needless, as I can identify Alan’s voice from anywhere in the house.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A ballet dancer, an actress in the RSC doing wall-to-wall Chekhov, a writer.

What was the last lie that you told?
“I’m ready.”

What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Clothes shopping.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
In the romance category, Paul Higgins must get a special mention for staying power and jokes. I adore our kids. I absolutely love my family. I couldn’t get by without my friends. I think love of colleagues (there’s probably a Greek word for it) is under-recognised.

What was the best kiss of your life?
It was shortly after the worst kiss, with Paul in 1992, a very awkward wooden kiss, and then, later that same night, take two was much better. We met doing Romeo and Juliet. We weren’t Romeo and Juliet – it wasn’t that tidy.

What has been your biggest disappointment?
The London Eye. I thought the cabs were going to be open and that it was going to travel at speed.

If not yourself, who would you most like to be?
Sarah Lamb (the American ballet dancer) for a day.

When did you last cry and why?
Today, rehearsing.

What would you like to leave your children?
A bolthole. An actual one, and an inner one.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Making the babies and pushing them out.

What has been your closest brush with the law?
I was pulled over as a young driver. I’d had some cider, the tyres were bald and I hadn’t approached the roundabout sensibly. They let me off.

What keeps you awake at night?
Doing things like this; thinking I might have got up someone’s nose; menu planning.

Would you rather have more sex, money or fame?
I wouldn’t adjust any of the above.

What happens when we die?
I can’t wait to find out. I can actually.