My Secret Life - Gemma Atkinson

Age: 23
Occupation: actress
Marital status: co-habiting

Monday, 7 April 2008

My father died when I was 17 and since then I’ve been scared of something happening to my mum.

My philosophy is to treat others how I want to be treated. I learnt that in the Brownies and Guides.

My guilty pleasure is eating white chocolate mice.

My hero is Angelina Jolie. She makes amazing movies, does so much for charity and is bringing up a big family. How does she do it?

I’m a big animal lover. When I was little, I’d put gerbil food in pavement cracks for ants to eat.

My best friends are my mum and my sister Nina.

I’m obsessive about the gym and go six times a week. I wish I could cut down and not feel bad.

I’d love to have met Sir William Wallace [Braveheart]. I admire how he fought for what he believed in. Without him, Scotland wouldn’t be Scotland today.

I lost my temper a couple of days ago with my boyfriend
[footballer Marcus Bent]. I was struggling to carrying loads of stuff into the house and he didn’t help me!

My party trick is that I can do the splits.

My mum taught me that I should always be myself and never compromise to make someone else happy.

My fella keeps me awake at night because he’s always wriggling about in bed.

I’ve never broken the law.

The last time I told a lie was answering the last question!

I need to learn not to be so trusting of people before I get to know them properly.

I’d like to shamelessly plug Virgin Holidays [virgin holidays.co.uk]. I went to Thailand with Virgin for my 2008 calendar shoot.

Diet
I haven’t eaten red meat since reading Skinny Bitch [£7.99, Running Press]. I switched to soya milk and now I only eat chicken and fish.

Style
I have Ugg boots in every colour. They may not be fashionable, but they’re so comfy.

Wacko
I used to do a fantastic Michael Jackson impression when I was a kid.

Home
I live in Manchester. I prefer the north to the south. I grew up here and I’m surrounded by family.

TV Show
I’m addicted to Phoenix Nights. The characters all remind me
of my family.

Perfume
I wear Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir. I like to have her candles in the house, too.

Film
The last film I saw and loved was Rocky Balboa. Sly Stallone’s wicked. He’s amazing for his age.

Holiday
When I want to get away from it all I visit Dumfries in Scotland – I just love the scenery.

By Karen Cross