Former Strictly Judge Arlene Philips had her youngest daughter at 47 – and despite her worries about being mistaken for a grandmother, she says she totally embraced the experience.
Now aged 80, the Dame has opened to up OK! about her experience of becoming what was officially known as a "geriatric" parent (a woman aged over 35).
Arlene welcomed both her daughters later in life after suffering various fertility complications, and is now also a grandmother of two little girls who she calls the "loves of her life".
Reflecting on her own journey to motherhood, she says, "“A child is a gift, and if you’re lucky enough to conceive naturally, no matter what age you are, you have to totally embrace it. Even if you’re older, take every chance you get of having a child, if you really want one. Just do it.”
She continued, “I endured that awful day of taking my daughter to nursery and worrying I looked like a grandmother and everyone else looked younger.
"And the morning sickness I got with my second pregnancy was difficult, being older, but neither of those things ever took away from the joy that my girls gave me."
More than 30 years on, Arlene is now a devoted grandmother to her two adorable granddaughters – Lila Primrose, four, and Emme Bow, two, – who keep the "Glamorous Granny" on her toes.
“Oh, my gosh!, " she beams. “Lila – who’s almost five – has just ventured off to primary school, and Emme, who is almost three, is now at nursery, so it’s felt like a really big time for my family.
“I cannot tell you how much I love and adore those kids. I’m crazy about them. All my spare time is spent seeing them.”
Given her career as one of the country's most respected dance choreographers and directors, it's doesn't come as a surprise that the little girls have picked up a few moves of their own
“They’re always dancing, especially Lila,” she says. “My daughter Alana sent me a video the other day of Lila awake at 5am, dancing around the house to the soundtrack of Guys and Dolls, which I recently choreographed. Watching her respond to the rhythm of those songs was a pure joy.
"But there’s no pressure on them at all, they won’t be going to dance school every day. I didn’t push my own daughters into dance, so I wouldn’t do that with my grandchildren.”
When it comes to age, Arlene, who was part of the original judging line-up on Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 to 2009, has proved on more than one occasion that she's won't be held back.
In 2021, she made history when she became the oldest contestant to take part in ITV's I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! aged 78 at the time.
And when it comes to work, she's arguably busier than ever, as she promotes the the return of her dramatic stage production House of Flamenka, with the show’s star Karen Ruimy.
“Like everyone, some days I do feel 100%, and some days I don’t feel confident at all,” she admits. “But I am who I am. I think age has a lot to do with spirit. I don’t think I feel how I’m supposed to at 80 – I’m full of life and ready to go! I believe you’re only as young as
you feel.”
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