Ruth Jones recalls feeling 'self-conscious' during photoshoots as stylists never provided outfits in her size before detailing her struggle with a health issue in candid new interview
Ruth Jones has recalled feeling 'self-conscious' during photoshoots amid her early career as stylists failed to provide clothes in her size.
The actress and writer, 58, who starred in ITV comedy Fat Friends between 2000-2005, revealed in a new interview how the ordeal made her feel as she noted that the only clothes laid out for her were a size 16, despite her being a size 20 at the time.
Meanwhile, Ruth discussed her struggle with a health issue that has made her realise that a walk down the street is something she takes for granted.
Opening up about the fashion blunder during a candid chat with Woman & Home magazine, Ruth shared: 'I first started doing photo shoots about 20 years ago, I felt so self-conscious.
'I was probably a size 20, and on one shoot, the stylist only got size 16 clothes that didn't fit me. I think there was that mentality of, "A size 16 is large, so that will be fine."
The co-writer and star of beloved sitcom Gavin and Stacey has maintained a healthy lifestyle over the years after previously stunning fans in 2011 when she revealed her incredible 4.5 stone weight loss.
The actress and writer, 58, revealed how the ordeal made her feel as she noted that the only clothes laid out for her were a size 16, despite her being a size 20 at the time
Despite her more positive approach to health, Ruth insists that diets and weight are very 'boring subjects' and remarked that people often set themselves 'ridiculous fitness ambitions' that can so easily be given up on.
Elsewhere, Ruth opened up on her feelings of gratitude amid a problem with her knees, as she noted that one doesn't always know what they've got 'until it's gone.'
She said: 'I don't particularly practise gratitude, but often I get a wake-up call where I'll go, "Thank goodness I can still do this." At the moment I'm suffering with my knees, and I hadn't realised how much I take being able to walk down the street for granted.'
It comes as last month, Ruth ditched Barry Island for Liverpool as she arrived at the northern city to film Netflix 's Run Away.
After starring in the final episode of Gavin and Stacey in December, the Welsh actress will now take on a new role for a Harlan Coben thriller.
And Ruth seemed excited to get filming as she was spotted sporting a huge smile and waving her hands excitedly.
For her scene, Ruth can be seen wearing a bright red cardigan, which she matched with her socks and layered under a green rain mac.
The new twist-filled crime thriller is set to be another huge hit and will also star James Nesbitt, Minnie Driver, Alfred Enoch, Ellie de Lange and Lucian Msamati.
The star has maintained a healthy lifestyle over the years after previously stunning fans in 2011 when she revealed her incredible 4.5 stone weight loss (pictured in November 2011)
Elsewhere, Ruth opened up on her feelings of gratitude amid a problem with her knees, as she noted that one doesn't always know what they've got 'until it's gone'
The eight-episode series, based on the bestselling book, follows Simon (played by James Nesbitt) as he searches for his daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange).
Ruth will star as private investigator Elena Ravenscroft who is looking for a missing young man.
Harlan told Netflix's Tudum: 'Run Away is about family - about what we will do to keep our family intact, what secrets we keep within our family, and what secrets we keep as a family.'
He added: 'Every time you walk past the house, there's a whole universe that goes on behind that door and none of us have a clue what it is.'
Run Away comes following the success of Harlan's thriller Fool Me Once in 2024, starring Michelle Keegan in a lead role.
The show became the most-watched series for the first half of the year, racking up an impressive 108 million views.
Elsewhere, almost 20million viewers sat down to watch Gavin and Stacey on Christmas Day, making it one of the BBC's most-watched scripted dramas ever.
Viewers had been waiting for five years to learn the fate of the BBC sitcom's beloved characters and see if Smithy had accepted Nessa's proposal.
The final episode was hailed 'perfect' by viewers, who were left in tears as the long-running show finally aired its last episode after 17 years.
The series, which debuted back in 2007 after being created by stars James Corden and Ruth , concluded with on/off lovers Smithy and Nessa finally declaring their love for one another and tying the knot, but not without a few hiccups along the way.
Despite ruling out a return to the series, James has said he wants to work with Ruth again.
He said: 'We don't know if we have another idea in us but I can honestly say that if we didn't attempt to try and even explore the idea of writing together then I'd be so disappointed.'
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Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
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Lorraine's 'defiant' message for ITV after fears she'd quit show following cuts
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After taking politicians to account, Lorraine loves to drift off to sleep by listening to the Shipping Forecast - a BBC Radio 4 weather report, which lists gale warnings and wind speeds among other elements - despite having "no clue" what it is about. She said: "Do you ever listen to the shipping forecast? I do. I have no idea what she's going on about. Not a clue. But it's very reassuring. I feel reassured. I feel I can go to sleep at night, and I don't even know what it's about." Hopefully the shipping forecast is still doing the job at the moment, even in the face of such nightmare news about the cuts to staff and her hours on screen. Lorraine has dropped anchor at ITV and doesn't want to leave.
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Shelby is incredibly smart—that's not so obvious to other people—in a way that's beyond her years. What drew me to her was her honesty, which I think is something a lot of people struggle with. Personally, I could never be as honest and blunt as Shelby is. I was really drawn to how she can maintain that quality throughout the trauma she's suffered, and the way she carries that trauma in such a complex, beautiful, messy way. Digging into that and peeling back her layers was such a long process—and one that I feel like I didn't actually have a full grasp on until right before opening, to be honest. How has the role evolved for you over time? In rehearsal, we got into some of her wackier and nerdier sides, where she's a little bit more energetic and awkward. In previews, we stripped that back and brought back some of my initial instincts; we grounded her a bit and found places for her to relax so that the audience could see the many dimensions of who she is. 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She told me something that shifted how I approached the scene: That any choice I make, anything I say, has nothing to do with me. It's only Shelby. And if I can just be a vessel for her, then the vulnerability can open up and it can feel honest. That was so important to hear from a director—for her to call out the anxieties that I have in that area, and allow me to feel safe and protected. The play gets intense at some points. How do you get into character? There are 30 minutes in the play before I go on stage. So while everybody else is warming up, I'm not; I wait until everyone else is on stage, and that's my warm-up time. I have the space to get into character, because it's so quiet backstage. I have a few songs that are triggers, or that help me associate with Shelby. If I listen to one of those songs, then I'm good. I've been listening to 'Limp,' by Fiona Apple. I think Shelby would love Fiona Apple. Also, 'Liability (Reprise)' from Melodrama by Lorde. That's a huge one. It's weird how much muscle memory comes into play. We've done the show so many times at this point; each show feels different, but your body knows what to do and knows what you need to access at different points. That's been a huge learning curve. It doesn't get worse or less true the more you do it. It becomes second nature, and you find different things in the performance that stick out. Is there a line in the script that particularly speaks to you? This week's line was in the gas station scene. It's when Shelby says, 'I think I'm going to be super messed up for a really long time, but I don't know if I'm fully equipped to start that journey right now.' That was always my favorite in rehearsals, but it really came back around this week; it's such a mature thing for her to say but also so heartbreaking. I was emotional thinking about what the rest of Shelby's life looks like, carrying what happened to her. How do you wind down after a performance? At the end of the show, I'm so winded from that last dance. I've given all the energy I have left. I have 45 minutes in the car where I can listen to music. When I get home, I pretty much go to bed. I would be remiss to not ask you about Charles Strouse, the composer who wrote Annie and passed away recently. What do you remember of him? It was really heartbreaking to hear and made me appreciate my time in that show. I met him at the opening night party for Annie. What he did for Annie —that kind of raised me in a way. That's the legacy he created and I'm so appreciative of him. What do you remember about going on in the role of Annie for the first time, after Lilla Crawford had left the production? I'm still friends with Lilla—she's a good friend of mine. Once she left, me and another girl shared the role. I remember the first time I went on for Duffy, the first orphan I played, but I can't remember the first time I went on as Annie. I do remember a put-in that we did: I thought it was so bizarre that the casting directors showed up, and maybe [director] James Lapine and [choreographer] Andy Blankenbuehler. I later realized that that was my audition to step in as Annie. It felt very adult and very serious. I cannot believe someone trusted me to go on stage and do that. Mia Farrow, who is also nominated in your category, recently came to see your performance. How did that go? It was amazing. She did The Roommate at the Booth, so she knew a lot of the crew that worked there. She really loved the show. And I love her so much. She is so kind. I got to meet her at the Tony nominees luncheon. She was like, 'Who do you want to meet?' I said, 'Jonathan Groff.' So she introduced me—which was huge. I will never forget that. What did you say to him? I just said I was such a big fan. I think that's all I said. I hope I can meet him again soon, because I'm obsessed with him. Have you been able to see him yet in Just in Time? No, because we're on the same schedule. The weird thing is, even if you aren't on the same schedule as another show—if you have a night or an afternoon off—it's hard to get yourself to midtown to sit through another show. But I did get to see Oh, Mary!, which was awesome. Maybe you'll get to see him again at the Tonys. Who are you bringing as your date? My brother!
