Lifestyle and Opinions

In recent interviews Gillian has outlined a philosophy on her life and career.

"Age is not important," she says. "It's where your brain is and your level of energy that matters. I have always had a lot of energy and I don't notice that diminishing."

"I like work and I work all the time. Once you decide to be a dancer, you have no choice but to work at it. As a young dancer at the Palladium, I'd do two shows a night and three on Wednesdays and Saturdays, I'd have a class every morning, then warm-ups for each performance."

"I had to manufacture the energy and go through the pain barrier. In the end, I got so strong. I have a maxim that energy breeds energy. I don't believe that you get it from having a rest. On the days when I hurt and feel tired, I know I have to do a workout and I'll feel better."

Lynne is no backseat choreographer, shouting instructions from the stalls she is up there on stage, dancing and demonstrating. She also directs and produces.

"I don't think I could stand the boredom if I hadn't had the discipline of being a dancer, a director and a choreographer."

"I love any regime that recognises that health is part physical, a lot mental, and does not depend on heavy use of drugs. My life is one big battle. Perhaps that's what keeps me young."

The battle is waged on many fronts. As well as workouts in the gym or at home, she practises yoga and - when not rehearsing - has twice-weekly Pilates sessions. She also practises autogenic meditation daily. "You have a key into yourself - a sentence - and you instruct yourself how to calm the body down. People in my job are used to controlling their body and telling it what to do. As long as you can isolate yourself, you can do it anywhere."

"I am notoriously bad at giving in to rest. People who work hard find the first few days of a holiday intensely hard because it's like coming off a drug. I usually get a cold or a headache."