Zoe Lucker is in great
shape. With her blonde hair flicked up at the ends and tight jeans
clinging to all the right places, the Footballers' Wives star looks as
stunning in real life as she does on screen.
Some traits of her superbitch character,
Tanya Turner, are still there in the extremely long nails and permanent
tan. But it's obvious Lucker is very happy with how she looks, which is
just as well considering her new fitness video aims to encourage women to
squeeze into their favourite frocks.
The Little Black Dress Workout is for all those women
who have a too-tight party dress hanging at the back of the wardrobe. With
Lucker's help, they should be able to fit into it in a matter of weeks.
Lucker, 29, says the routine is surprisingly
easy, that even she can do it, and she dislikes working out.
"Well it had been a very long time since I
had done any exercise," she laughs. "I hated the thought of going to the
gym and I tried swimming and found myself watching the clock. I found it
so boring. I knew I needed to introduce fitness into my life at some stage
and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do it."
Anyone buying the video will most likely
want to lose weight, but Lucker says she just used the workout to tone up
and get fit.
"I never set out to lose weight because I
don't think I need to lose weight and I don't want to promote unhealthy
body image in young women," she says. "I think it's really important that
fitness is the main thing but obviously the video clearly aids weight loss
if that's why you're doing it."
A tiny size eight to 10, Lucker says she
tries not to weigh herself because it "can become obsessive". She tends to
eat healthy foods, with occasional chips and rich pasta sauces.
"I've always enjoyed eating fish, chicken,
salad and vegetables," she says. "I enjoy the fact that by being
disciplined about what I eat, without doing finicky diets and without
depriving myself of all the nutrients I require, that I feel happier in
terms of I'm not worried about what I can wear. It makes me feel much more
active than if I sat and ate pies all day."
But Lucker admits to one vice she shares
with Tanya - smoking. She confesses she's been hooked for "10-ish" years,
adding: I do realise it's something I need to knock on the head. I'll get
there eventually."
Huddersfield-born Lucker started her acting
life in commercials - advertising Tunes and B&Q. She landed roles in
Where The Heart Is?, Coronation Street and Doctors, but the work was
irregular and she was forced to take administration jobs. She says there
has been "eight years of rejection and heartache in this industry" and she
was considering becoming a primary school teacher when Footballers' Wives
came along.
She explains: "I enjoyed all those acting
jobs but they didn't come along as often as I wanted. I love working and I
love acting and so it was terribly frustrating dropping leaflets in Crouch
End.
"I was a really bad receptionist. The phone
would ring and it was all that stuff of transferring. I remember once the
boss saying, 'Fax this', and I thought I was going to throw up, I was so
nervous. I'd definitely rather have the job I have now. Obviously the show
has completely changed my life."
Lucker lives in Stoke Newington, north
London, having split from her husband, estate agent Richard Forshaw in
October 2001.
After five years together and just 15 months
of marriage, she realised things weren't working out and wanted to leave.
Her new love is television presenter Tony
Craig. The pair split up briefly but have got back together.
"That's all fine," she smiles, not wanting
to give too much away, but admits she's not thinking of remarrying.
"I would love to have babies at some stage,"
she points out. "I love children and I would love to be a mum. I'm very
lucky at the moment with all my work though."
Footballers' Wives has been a massive
success, with millions tuning in for the first two series.
The third will hit our screens in the new
year, and will see Tanya jailed for murdering her husband Jason.
Premiership players seem to love the drama.
"We've had people like Teddy Sheringham and Sol Campbell on the show,"
Lucker says. "And the wives that I've spoken to love it. I spoke to Alex
Best the other day and she loves it. I know Ian Wright's wife's a big fan
and through the grapevine I hear Victoria likes it.
"The important thing is we never set out to
say this is what footballers do and this is what footballers' wives do.
It's make believe, it's a drama, not a documentary. I suppose it's fantasy
and escapism. Visually it's so fantastic. It's like a television version
of a glossy magazine."
In the programme, Tanya is obsessed with
money, wears designer clothes and is dripping in diamonds. Although Lucker
likes shopping and has treated herself to a Rolex watch, she insists she
doesn't spend thousands on dressing up. However a new house could be on
the agenda.
"I'd love to live in one of those town
houses in Islington, like Sherlock Holmes' house," she laughs. "Maybe in a
couple of years that will be do-able and it's something to work towards.
It would be rubbish if you were given loads of money and told to do what
you want. It's a fantastic sense of achievement when you know you've
worked towards something."
The actress turns 30 in April, but instead
of dreading it, she's actually quite excited. "It will be a pleasure to
catch up with the age that I've looked for so many years now," she laughs.
"People have always thought I've looked older than what I am. It will be a
great time in my life. I'm at a stage where I feel very happy."
HOW TO BE A FOOTBALLER'S WIFE
:: Taken from the book How to Be a
Footballer's Wife by J Reynolds, out on November 24, 2003, priced £14.99.
- To find a footballer, try placing an
enticing personal ad. Always make yourself look available and dress mean
at nightclubs and at the training ground.
- Once captured, seek his wallet not his
heart. A common misconception is that you have responsibility for talking.
You don't. Just giggle at the end of all his sentences.
- Play hard to get and keep him on his toes.
Say things like 'no sex before marriage' and make sure you are frequently
photographed without your engagement ring.
- The most heinous crime is to be ordinary.
Change your name to one suitable for a footballer's wife. For example,
choose the name of your favourite drink and then add the surname of your
favourite footballer.
- One year before you wish to get married,
decide upon your husband, arrange for him to propose and threaten to leave
him when he's not quick enough to agree.
- If you are not going to go crazy with
cash, you have no right to be a footballer's wife. Focus your aspirations
on some well chosen and outrageously priced items. Don't spend money on
your husband. It will only eat into the alimony.
- When it comes to beauty, don't be afraid
of treatments that burn through your delicate skin like acid. That's how
you know it's working.
- When dressing for matches, do your
homework and don't turn up in an outfit in the opposition's colours.
- Being parental and having children looks
good in the tabloids, particularly if you are losing your looks.
- Some football facts you need to be aware
of include: It matters which net you get it in - though confusingly this
changes at one stage in the match so check first. You are not allowed to
use a tissue to pick up the ball, even if it's muddy.
:: Zoe Lucker's Little Black Dress Workout
is out now on video (£14.99) and DVD (£19.99).
The Little Black Dress Workout is for all those women
who have a too-tight party dress hanging at the back of the wardrobe. With
Lucker's help, they should be able to fit into it in a matter of weeks.
