Joanna Page is back on our screens in Gavin & Stacey this Christmas.
The actress and presenter is reprising her role of Stacey Shipman for one last time in a festive special of the hit BBC sitcom, with Ruth Jones and James Corden having reunited one last time for a final episode.
Away from the role, Joanna is a mum of four, who welcomed her youngest child unexpectedly in 2021 at the age of 44. She later had her fallopian tubes cut, but admitted it was an impulsive decision.
“Of course I’m feeling broody. After having Boe, I did have my fallopian tubes cut, I didn’t really think about it a lot. I knew, inside, I’m 46 I couldn’t go through another pregnancy, I’d be utterly exhausted and I also want to give enough time to my children,” she said.
“But not that long ago, I went on the internet, I looked up: ‘Can you have your tubes put back together?’ You can. One-in-200 women can maybe get pregnant after doing that. I told James, he just looked at me and went: ‘You what? What on earth are you going on about?’ So I will not be having anymore. I’ve got my beautiful four children.”
Joanna also revealed doing presenting had really helped her spend more time with her family.
She said: “I really enjoy presenting and it works a lot better with a family as you don’t have to go away for weeks on end. For the first six months after I had Eva I was away working filming two shows back to back. I had my mum looking after her on set but it was so tough as all I wanted to do was spend time with my new baby.
“Also, I just find presenting a lot more interesting. You’re always doing something different and I love just being myself and chatting to people. It can be a lot more fun than sitting alone in a trailer for hours learning lines, then going out to do a scene where you’re pretending to be somebody else.”
Joanna has also been open about having to take medication for the rest of her life after being diagnosed with a health condition.
She told Wales Online: “I just started to feel I was in slow motion all the time. I just had no energy. I’d get out of bed, load the washing machine, and then be so drained I’d have to sit around staring into space for the rest of the day.
“And I was continually freezing cold. I’d have the central heating on full blast, be wearing three layers of clothing including thermals, and my husband James would have to walk around in shorts because it was so hot in the house.”
Joanna was later diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and will take medication for the rest of her life, and she revealed that the medication has been having a positive effect on her – which she noticed when she accidentally stopped them.
*Gavin and Stacey’s Christmas special airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.