A familiar face and voice of TV and breakfast radio, Amanda Holden talks about how important health is to her, and why, as the years have gone by, she has built her life around its pillars in Bishop’s Waltham.
A Career Spanning Acting, Presenting, and Judging
With a career that spans acting, presenting, and judging – each, in their own way making her a household name – Amanda Holden, a Britain’s Got Talent judge, has become something of a UK entertainment icon.
As a judge on Britain’s Got Talent since its inception in 2007, and vibrant co-host on Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston, the 53-year-old brings personality, humility and ‘girl next door’ charm to everything she touches.
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Early Acting Roles and Creating Her Own Identity
Perhaps that’s because although someone in the spotlight for the best part of three decades – initially as an actress who appeared in the likes of The Bill, EastEnders, Jonathan Creek, Kiss Me Kate and more, then as the partner on the arm of presenter and comedian Les Dennis, Holden has created her own sphere of originality, with talent shows combined with exemplary turns on Wild at Heart, This Morning and more.
At the heart of Holden’s success, and factoring in the need to bat off seemingly endless press speculation about everything from family life to the latest designer dress the Portsmouth-raised personality is spotted wearing, has been wellbeing and health – both physical and mental.
Balancing Work and Fitness
“My fitness aims have always needed to fit around work commitments,” she says. “That’s the same for me as anyone else out there.
“I think I first really realised that when I was hosting This Morning in 2014,” Amanda Holden says. My regime went to pot because previously I’d always gone for a run after taking the kids to nursery. Doing that show meant when I got back from work they were back from nursery and I just wanted to be with them.
“It was at that point I started to explore alternative ways of getting what I needed, so I turned to Kundalini yoga – it involves a lot of breath-work and stretching.
“That was really the foundation for me to start exploring various ways I could enrich myself away from just standard exercise,” Amanda Holden says.
As honest as the day is long, Holden is happy to bat off the suppositions and claims of other celebrities.
Healthy Living by Choice, Not Perfection
“There are so many people paid to say a certain thing or act in a certain way, and I think through social media we are beginning to see through that now, because it’s important people have real perspective.
“The fact is I’m a healthy eater by default because I choose to eat healthy things. I’m a vegetarian but I don’t really think there is any magic cure – it’s literally all about what you choose to put in your body.
“And I’m not perfect either – I love wine, and always let my hair down on holiday, but if I indulge on one day, then I make sure I’m healthy the next day.”
A Balanced Approach to Lifestyle and Social Media Influence
Holden does admit it’s not always easy to keep up appearances. “I don’t believe in diets, personally. I believe in balance and a little bit of everything is a good thing, and while I know I’ve got a lot of young girls who follow me on social media, I certainly don’t see myself as a role model.”
The star, who is following up last year’s successful Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job, alongside comedian and friend Alan Carr, with a new series, Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job, continues, “I’m very aware that people scrutinise how I’m looking, what I’m wearing, my body shape, and I always want to promote a healthy lifestyle – but that must involve eating food! We need to get realistic.”
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