Martine McCutcheon shares her health and beauty secrets

Singer, actress, television personality and face of yoghurt brand Activia®, Martine McCutcheon has been in the public eye since her teens and knows what it is like to feel pressure to look perfect. But how does she cope? What does she do to stay fit and healthy? And what are her beauty secrets? We caught up with the nation's favourite girl-next-door to find out more. 

I don't weigh myself... because I find I get depressed easily, even if I look really skinny but I weigh more. I find that a bit off-putting. My favourite size is to be a ten to twelve and I maintain that size by eating well and trying to lead a balanced lifestyle with exercise.

I love to swim… I also love to do yoga and stretches, and walking along the embankment listening to my favourite songs. That's a really fun way to exercise. I listen to Rolling in the Deep by Adele and I love anything by Kings of Leon - anything to get me revved up.

I try and vary my diet as much as I can… but most mornings I'll have a bowl of cereal and an Activia yoghurt, then I'll have an apple. Normally I'll go to Wholefoods in Kensington and try and grab myself some salmon and brown rice for lunch. In the evenings I have whatever I want, but make sure that it's protein only so that I'm not having any carbs in the evening.

I'm a useless cook.. and my friends would say that I'm fantastic at ordering a take-away - I love a lamb curry. I shouldn't say that, but it's true.

My other weaknesses when it comes to food are… chocolate and warm bread with butter. I'm a milk chocolate girl - I don't do any of this Organic Green & Blacks stuff: if you're going to do it, do it and I love Yorkie bars.

My dying dinner would be… nutella on toast. Since I was about nine years old, I've just absolutely loved it. My mum wouldn't let me have it, so it was like this forbidden thing, which I could only have whene I went to my friend's house and now I just associate it with really treating myself and having something I shouldn't.

Being a public figure makes you more critical of your appearance… you get photographed so much and you see yourself at different angles - more so than your average Joe would - and, as a result, you can be harsh on yourself. I think it's really important to try and separate yourself from that - just like what you see in the mirror and try and keep things as real as you can. You can never be perfect to all people, you just have to try and be happy with yourself.

When I was younger, in my twenties… I tried so hard to be something that I wasn't and, in actual fact, didn't make the most of myself. Along the way I've realised that by being me and celebrating who I am, I've become more attractive and more confident and it's made me feel more of a success really.

In my fridge, you would find… a bottle of Laurent Perrier Rose - I've always got one of those. I also have smoked salmon, eggs, skimmed milk, organic butter, fruit, veg, Activia yoghurt (because they send them to me obviously!) - just all your basics really.

I couldn't live without… some NW30 Mac Foundation. I discovered it before going to a charity ball in Manchester for the Red Cross. I had to get my make-up done in Selfridges by one of the Mac girls because my make-up artist had fallen ill and just thought the foundation she had used was amazing. I've used it ever since. I also love Vitamin E cream, which I can only get in Duane Reade in America - it's good as my skin is really dry. I always stock up on it when I'm over there.

In terms of my beauty regime… I just follow the basic beauty bible. I try and sleep eight hours, I drink lots of water and I cleanse, tone and moisturise. And face masks are brilliant for quenching your skin and getting rid of fine lines.

I love massage and steam… I think steaming is fantastic for the skin and getting rid of all the toxins. I try and go to The Chelsea Club twice a week - the spa and pool there are fantastic. They do healthy food and you just go, indulge and come out feeling like a different person.

I have lots of style and beauty icons… I think Marion Cotillard, the French actress, is absolutely beautiful - I love her style and chicness. I love Halle Berry - she's aged beautifully and she's got an amazing body without being pin thin. And I love Kate Moss, who very rarely puts a foot wrong.

Martine follows the TLC Plan from Danone Activia - a free 14-day wellness plan designed to help you start feeling better from the inside out. The Plan offers tips from experts in fitness, lifestyle and nutrition that are designed to suit your individual needs. For more visit www.tlcplan.co.uk  

Interview by Emily Jenkinson

27th October 2011