Post by tomsgirl on Sept 18, 2006 0:43:51 GMT 1
LUCY PARGETER: I WANT TO GROW OLD DISGRACEFULLY
EMMERDALE'S Lucy Pargeter reveals why she;d never say no to a bit of nip and tuck...
By Antonia Hoyle
CHASTITY Dingle fans will be pleased to know that Lucy Pargeter is every bit as outspoken and feisty as her Emmerdale character.
''Take Nicole Richie," she says, on the subject of excessive dieting, "It's a bad, bad thing that she's been praised for looking good. It's not a look to aspire to."
So it stands to reason then that Lucy admires fellow outspoken - and more mature - stars such as Sharon Osbourne and Anne Robinson - particularly as they've gone under the knife.
"Good for them that they're growing old disgracefully!" she laughs. "Jeepers! They look amazing."
Five years ago, Lucy had a boob job to lift her 34DD chest - and says she wouldn't rule out surgery again.
"If it can't be rectified with diet and exercise then I'm all for it," she says. "If my boobs start going south, I'll have another boob job.
Liposuction's quite extreme but I'd never say never."
As a teenager, Lucy suffered from bulimia, making herself sick at least once a day after being bullied for being chubby. But that's all in the past now.
"It is an addiction - but I hope it will never be a part of my life again," she says.
"I've realised I can control my weight with diet and exercise without damaging my body. Besides, I'd never want to risk my health now."
And the reason for Lucy's renewed caution with dieting is the arrival of her daughter Lola, 10 months ago.
But unlike many celeb mums, she admits that getting her pre-pregnancy body back has been a struggle and it's taken time. She wouldn't have it any other way, though.
"My diet went out of the window when I was pregnant, but I wasn't worried," explains Lucy, 28.
"I was carrying a baby inside me, after all, which was way more important than what I looked like.
"I ate anything and everything - especially Maltesers. In fact, I got through so many bags I should have been sponsored by them."
She waited until six weeks after Lola was born until she even thought about slimming down - and is perplexed by the rate at which some celebrity Mums, such as Victoria Beckham and Donna Air, have snapped back into shape so quickly.
"I don't know if they were watching their weight while they were pregnant, but I think it gives a very unrealistic example to ordinary women who haven't got the resources for a personal trainer and dietitian," she says.
Instead, Lucy, who plays feisty barmaid Chastity Dingle in the hit ITV soap, started eating three balanced meals a day.
She also did an hour's exercise three times a week to shift the three stone she'd put on - although she didn't enjoy a second of it.
"I hate the gym with a passion," she says. "Frankly, there are better ways to spend my time."
It paid off, though, as she's now back to her pre-baby weight of 8st 5lb. And now she has an alternative form of keep-fit - crawling round after her daughter.
"Lola's crawling everywhere at the moment, so I spend a lot of my time on all fours chasing after her," she laughs.
She's also been taking a food supplement called Phase 2 (£8.99 Superdrug), which is derived from white kidney beans and stops her body absorbing all the carbs she eats.
And although it seems to be doing the trick, she'd obviously like to be more toned.
"I'm the slimmest I've been for a while now, but everything needs nipping and tucking," she explains. "My belly's still a saggy mess. I could sort it out with sit-ups but I'm too lazy."
And, saggy belly or no saggy belly, she's clearly confident about her curves. "The other day a stranger said the little black dress I was wearing to a party was too short," she says. "But I wasn't bothered. I'm damn proud of my legs and got them out because I think they look good."
Someone else who thinks they look good is her fiance, football coach Rudi Coleano, 26.
They met in a bar and got engaged two weeks later, after Lucy proposed.
She's all for other women following her example. "Why wait?" she asks.
"OK, it's not the traditional way to do it, but I've never been a traditionalist.
I didn't really think about it before I asked. I hadn't had copious amounts of alcohol - just a couple!"
They were supposed to be getting married last June, but then Lucy discovered she was pregnant.
"We had to postpone the wedding because it was too close to my due date," she says. "We couldn't run the risk of Lola arriving on the day!"
Of course, her on-screen alter ego Chastity is also engaged to her boyfriend, Carl King.
"I don't think they'll be getting married this year," she says. "Both Rudi and I hope I'll get married in real life before I do on screen."
In another rather unconventional twist it's Rudi - who works in the evenings - who stays at home and looks after Lola while Lucy's at work.
"I have total respect and admiration for stay-at home mums," she says.
"It's such a massive job.
You have to juggle everything and constantly be on your guard.
"Rudi's brilliant with Lola.
All I have to do is get in my car and go to work every morning.
Compared to motherhood, being in Emmerdale is a breeze."
But it's clear she adores being a mum.
"Everything about her is fantastic," she says.
"It's annoying when I get woken up in the middle of the night, but then I go in and see her smiling up at me from her cot.
"And the way she follows me around the house and comes for a cuddle when she's feeling scared - or when she's splashing about in her bath."
But Lucy and Rudi still make sure they spend quality time together as a couple.
"We have at least one night alone together each month so we can have a bit of a blowout," she explains. "Lola goes to stay with her granddad.
"I don't believe you have to sacrifice your social life when you become a mum - just tone it down a bit."
One thing she won't be toning down, however, is her outspoken personality.
"I'll always stand up for myself," she says. "I've never been in a physical fight, but a lot of people are surprised to see that I give as good as I get."
By this, she's talking about comments from strangers when she's out.
"People recognise me from the telly and think I'm Chastity and that they know me," she says. "But I won't take catty comments from them."
She's been back in Emmerdale for six months now - and is obviously settled there.
"My contract is up for renewal in December, but as long as they want me, I'll stay," she says.
And even though she made it to the final three of celebrity singing contest Soapstar Superstar earlier this year, she has no intention of pursuing a pop career.
Having been in a band called the Paper Dolls, who toured with Boyzone and Westlife, she feels she's done it already.
"I'd never say no to a musical though," she says. The West End had better watch out.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/showbiz/tm_objectid=17152237%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html
EMMERDALE'S Lucy Pargeter reveals why she;d never say no to a bit of nip and tuck...
By Antonia Hoyle
CHASTITY Dingle fans will be pleased to know that Lucy Pargeter is every bit as outspoken and feisty as her Emmerdale character.
''Take Nicole Richie," she says, on the subject of excessive dieting, "It's a bad, bad thing that she's been praised for looking good. It's not a look to aspire to."
So it stands to reason then that Lucy admires fellow outspoken - and more mature - stars such as Sharon Osbourne and Anne Robinson - particularly as they've gone under the knife.
"Good for them that they're growing old disgracefully!" she laughs. "Jeepers! They look amazing."
Five years ago, Lucy had a boob job to lift her 34DD chest - and says she wouldn't rule out surgery again.
"If it can't be rectified with diet and exercise then I'm all for it," she says. "If my boobs start going south, I'll have another boob job.
Liposuction's quite extreme but I'd never say never."
As a teenager, Lucy suffered from bulimia, making herself sick at least once a day after being bullied for being chubby. But that's all in the past now.
"It is an addiction - but I hope it will never be a part of my life again," she says.
"I've realised I can control my weight with diet and exercise without damaging my body. Besides, I'd never want to risk my health now."
And the reason for Lucy's renewed caution with dieting is the arrival of her daughter Lola, 10 months ago.
But unlike many celeb mums, she admits that getting her pre-pregnancy body back has been a struggle and it's taken time. She wouldn't have it any other way, though.
"My diet went out of the window when I was pregnant, but I wasn't worried," explains Lucy, 28.
"I was carrying a baby inside me, after all, which was way more important than what I looked like.
"I ate anything and everything - especially Maltesers. In fact, I got through so many bags I should have been sponsored by them."
She waited until six weeks after Lola was born until she even thought about slimming down - and is perplexed by the rate at which some celebrity Mums, such as Victoria Beckham and Donna Air, have snapped back into shape so quickly.
"I don't know if they were watching their weight while they were pregnant, but I think it gives a very unrealistic example to ordinary women who haven't got the resources for a personal trainer and dietitian," she says.
Instead, Lucy, who plays feisty barmaid Chastity Dingle in the hit ITV soap, started eating three balanced meals a day.
She also did an hour's exercise three times a week to shift the three stone she'd put on - although she didn't enjoy a second of it.
"I hate the gym with a passion," she says. "Frankly, there are better ways to spend my time."
It paid off, though, as she's now back to her pre-baby weight of 8st 5lb. And now she has an alternative form of keep-fit - crawling round after her daughter.
"Lola's crawling everywhere at the moment, so I spend a lot of my time on all fours chasing after her," she laughs.
She's also been taking a food supplement called Phase 2 (£8.99 Superdrug), which is derived from white kidney beans and stops her body absorbing all the carbs she eats.
And although it seems to be doing the trick, she'd obviously like to be more toned.
"I'm the slimmest I've been for a while now, but everything needs nipping and tucking," she explains. "My belly's still a saggy mess. I could sort it out with sit-ups but I'm too lazy."
And, saggy belly or no saggy belly, she's clearly confident about her curves. "The other day a stranger said the little black dress I was wearing to a party was too short," she says. "But I wasn't bothered. I'm damn proud of my legs and got them out because I think they look good."
Someone else who thinks they look good is her fiance, football coach Rudi Coleano, 26.
They met in a bar and got engaged two weeks later, after Lucy proposed.
She's all for other women following her example. "Why wait?" she asks.
"OK, it's not the traditional way to do it, but I've never been a traditionalist.
I didn't really think about it before I asked. I hadn't had copious amounts of alcohol - just a couple!"
They were supposed to be getting married last June, but then Lucy discovered she was pregnant.
"We had to postpone the wedding because it was too close to my due date," she says. "We couldn't run the risk of Lola arriving on the day!"
Of course, her on-screen alter ego Chastity is also engaged to her boyfriend, Carl King.
"I don't think they'll be getting married this year," she says. "Both Rudi and I hope I'll get married in real life before I do on screen."
In another rather unconventional twist it's Rudi - who works in the evenings - who stays at home and looks after Lola while Lucy's at work.
"I have total respect and admiration for stay-at home mums," she says.
"It's such a massive job.
You have to juggle everything and constantly be on your guard.
"Rudi's brilliant with Lola.
All I have to do is get in my car and go to work every morning.
Compared to motherhood, being in Emmerdale is a breeze."
But it's clear she adores being a mum.
"Everything about her is fantastic," she says.
"It's annoying when I get woken up in the middle of the night, but then I go in and see her smiling up at me from her cot.
"And the way she follows me around the house and comes for a cuddle when she's feeling scared - or when she's splashing about in her bath."
But Lucy and Rudi still make sure they spend quality time together as a couple.
"We have at least one night alone together each month so we can have a bit of a blowout," she explains. "Lola goes to stay with her granddad.
"I don't believe you have to sacrifice your social life when you become a mum - just tone it down a bit."
One thing she won't be toning down, however, is her outspoken personality.
"I'll always stand up for myself," she says. "I've never been in a physical fight, but a lot of people are surprised to see that I give as good as I get."
By this, she's talking about comments from strangers when she's out.
"People recognise me from the telly and think I'm Chastity and that they know me," she says. "But I won't take catty comments from them."
She's been back in Emmerdale for six months now - and is obviously settled there.
"My contract is up for renewal in December, but as long as they want me, I'll stay," she says.
And even though she made it to the final three of celebrity singing contest Soapstar Superstar earlier this year, she has no intention of pursuing a pop career.
Having been in a band called the Paper Dolls, who toured with Boyzone and Westlife, she feels she's done it already.
"I'd never say no to a musical though," she says. The West End had better watch out.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/showbiz/tm_objectid=17152237%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html