Main content

Indira Varma; Is 60 is the new 40 and Having it All

Indira Varma on playing the Queen of the Goths in Titus Andronicus. The psychological and health efects of body image on pregnant women and new mums. Plus is 60 the new 40?

Indira Varma's career has spanned theatre, television and film. She's currently playing Tamara, the Queen of the Goths in Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare's earliest tragedy, boasting the highest named character death count of all his plays. Jenni talks to her about her career to date being part of Game of Thrones and what it's like to act in Shakespeare's goriest work.

Sixty is the new forty. At least that's what Sal says, a character in Maeve Haran's new book, The Time of Their Lives. It's about four women in their early 60's who've been friends since university and their experience of growing older. How's it changed for this current generation of 60+? Is 60 the new 40?5

Penny Vincenzi's new novel, A Perfect Heritage features Bianca Bailey who's brought in to rescue a failing cosmetic house but struggles to get her work life balance right when her husband gets a new job. Penny will talk about the novel and whether it is possible or even desirable to "have it all" alongside Maeve who's explored similar themes in her work in the past.

Britain's poor white children are underachieving in schools and while the focus has recently been on boys what can be done to help the girls?

The psychotherapist Susie Orbach is co-author of 'Two for the Price of One' a report for Government that looks at how problems with body image can be unconsciously transmitted from mother to child. What needs to be done to prevent it happening?

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Body Image and Pregnancy

    Can problems with body image be unconsciously transmitted from mother to child?

    Duration: 08:59

  • Indira Varma

    Actress Indira Varma on acting in Shakespeare's goriest work.

    Duration: 08:15

  • Poor White Girls

    What can be done to help underachieving white girls?

    Duration: 06:11

  • Maeve Haran

    Is sixty is the new forty? Maeve on her new book 'The Time of Their Lives'.

    Duration: 09:32

  • Having it All

    Penny Vincenzi and Maeve Haran discuss if it's possible or desirable to 鈥渉ave it all鈥.

    Duration: 06:14

Body Image and Pregnancy

The psychotherapist and writer Susie Orbach has co-authored a report for the about how negative body image can affect pregnant women and new mothers. It鈥檚 called 鈥楾wo for the Price of One鈥 and looks at how problems with body image can be unconsciously transmitted from mother to child.听 Jenni is joined by Dr Orbach, who鈥檚 also the convenor of , and by the Observer columnist, Eva Wiseman, who is expecting her first baby.听They鈥檒l be exploring how we can prevent women and their babies suffering psychological and health problems because of poor body image and why it鈥檚 important for midwives and health visitors to talk to mothers about these issues.

Indira Varma

From appearing in 鈥楰ama Sutra: A Tale Of Love鈥 at just 21 to being directed by Harold Pinter and starring in television series such as Silk, Luther and most recently Game of Thrones, Indira Varma鈥檚 career has spanned theatre, television and film.听 And if you follow the Woman鈥檚 Hour drama her voice may be familiar to you - she was Caterina Riccardi in . Indira is currently playing Tamara, the Queen of the Goths in , Shakespeare鈥檚 earliest tragedy. Jenni talks to Indira about her acting career to date and what it鈥檚 like to act in Shakespeare鈥檚 goriest work.

Poor White Girls

叠谤颈迟补颈苍鈥檚 poor white children are underachieving in schools and while the focus has recently been on boys what can be done to help the girls? Poor white girls fall well below girls in other ethnic groups. A report by the Education Select committee suggests a good school or a good teacher is essential for changing this, claiming poorer children benefit more from a good education.听Jenni is joined by Carrie听Paechter, Professor of Education at Goldsmiths University of London who specialises in gender in education.

Maeve Haran

Sixty is the new forty. At least that鈥檚 what Sal says, a character in Maeve Haran鈥檚 new book, The Time of Their Lives.听 This is a book about four women in their early sixties, who have been friends since university.听 It鈥檚 about their experience of growing older,听 their ambitions, careers, husbands, lovers, children, hopes and fears. Maeve joins Jenni in the studio to discuss the experience of growing older. Has it really changed for this current generation of sixty plus?

The Time of Their Lives is published by Pan Books

Having it All

Having it All was the title of Maeve Haran鈥檚 first novel, published over twenty years ago.听 The book tells the story of ambitious Liz Ward, who is successful in television, a profession dominated by men working 14-hour days and she misses her children. The book charts how she gives it all up for family life and to work from home as a novelist. Penny Vincenzi鈥檚 new novel, A Perfect Heritage, also tells the story of two ambitious women. Maeve and Penny听join听Jenni to discuss whether it is possible or even desirable to 鈥渉ave it all鈥.

Having it All is published by Pan Books and; A Perfect Heritage is published by Headline

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Producer Beverley Purcell
Interviewed Guest Eva Wiseman
Interviewed Guest Susie Orbach
Interviewed Guest Maeve Haran
Interviewed Guest Penny Vincenzi
Interviewed Guest Indira Varma
Interviewed Guest Carrie Paechter

Broadcast

  • Wed 18 Jun 2014 10:00

Follow us on Instagram

Get all the pictures, videos, behind the scenes and more from Woman鈥檚 Hour

Podcast