Claudia Carroll, actor and author
Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?
Everybody thinks that they do, don’t they? I think I would be reasonably healthy. I don’t often get sick, I’m lucky like that. I’m a very occasional drinker, I don’t smoke and I do try to get exercise.
How often do you exercise?
Writing books is very sedentary. You’re sitting in front of a computer screen all day so you have to get out of the house and exercise or you would go mad. I made a resolution at the start of last year that I was not going to drive anywhere that I could walk. The first couple of months killed me but now I whiz into town and I think nothing of it. I’m in a local gym and I’d be there pretty regularly as well.
Do you get your five a day?
You show me someone who says they get five a day and I’ll show you a liar. No is the answer. I eat fruit in the mornings and I’m okay on vegetables so I’d say I get two a day. If you were to eat all five, you wouldn’t be able to eat much else.
Do you worry?
I’m a terrible worrier, a lifelong worrier. About 90 per cent of the things I worry about never happen but that doesn’t stop me. It’s a terrible habit. I’m always thinking what’s the worst thing that could happen.
What do you do to relax?
I find walking brilliant. I’m starting another book and I think what authors do is they are either scribbling it or walking it – plotting it in their heads. I’d do a lot of untangling of plot points while I’m out in the fresh air.
What’s your unhealthiest habit?
What will be the death of me is my sweet tooth. I would very happily live off jars of Nutella. Open my fridge and there will always be jars of Nutella. A sweet tooth will kill me.
Claudia Carroll is supporting Heads Up, a scalp psoriasis awareness campaign from the Irish Hairdressers Federation and the Psoriasis Association of Ireland.
Claudia Carroll’s new book A Very Accidental Love Story is out now.
In conversation with Joanne Hunt
