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Striking
© Adrian Peacock www. adrianpeacock.co.uk
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Interview by Julie Penfold
Actress Amanda Mealing has played feisty Connie Beauchamp
in Holby City and all-action Colonel Grant in Sky1’s Strike Back:
Project Dawn, but away from our screens she has bravely
battled breast cancer and is now fitter than she’s ever been...
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February 2012
AMANDAMealing
Amanda: I had a huge amount
of fitness training for my role as
Colonel Grant, based on a form of
SAS. Each morning I would be taken on
a run, do kickboxing, learn various fight
techniques and have weapons training.
I’m probably fitter now at 44 than I was at
24! Being one of the few women involved,
I refused to give up training with those
big burly guys. I think some of the time
the other actors were looking at me and
hoping I would give up, so they could
stop too, but I refused! My fitness levels
are really at their peak currently.
Q
How do you keep yourself
healthy food wise?
Amanda: I watch what I eat and I have
trained myself to drink water as it is not
something I deeply enjoy. I now drink
around two litres per day and really
think water is just the best thing, for both
your skin and your body. I try not to have
too much salt and sugar, and I have also
found cutting wheat out of my diet has
really helped me to cut down on eating
too much of foods which are not really
good for us. I don’t go for diet fads as
they only work for the time I’m on them.
I normally try to get all my vitamins,
minerals and proteins from the foods
that I eat and take daily supplements of
evening primrose and cod liver oils.
Q
You live on a farm in
Lincolnshire, and grow your
own organic veg. Does that mean
you’re a food lover?
Amanda: Oh, yes. I love Thai
food. My greatest cooking
achievement is my
Thai chicken soup.
It’s my husband
who is
I was just surprised how little I knew
“
about breast cancer and what would
be involved in terms of treatments and
surgery, but I was determined to fight it.
the real chef in our house. He will cook
everything from scratch, using fresh
ingredients from our garden. We have
a kitchen garden where we grow things
like vegetables, garlic and a multitude of
herbs. We have not used any pesticides
for over 10 years and as a result the soil is
really fertile and pure, which makes the
vegetables incredibly juicy. The sweetcorn
is taller than my husband and he is 6ft 5ins!
Q
Why did you decide to have laser
eye surgery last year?
Amanda: I have been short sighted all my
life and it was not until I had the surgery
that I realised how much I was missing
out on... I could only see 10 feet in front of
me. The boys would look at the buzzards,
sparrows, hawks and owls we have here
(around the farm) and I would not be able
to see a thing. My decision to have the
surgery with Advanced Vision Care has
been so brilliant for work too. I do not think
I could have taken on the Strike Back role
without my improved sight.
Q
Does living on the farm help keep
you in shape too?
Amanda: Having children helps to keep
me fit as I’m constantly running around
picking up toys after them! The beauty
of living on the farm is I have fresh eggs
from my chickens and there is always an
endless stream of jobs that need doing. I’m
constantly on the move at home and am
a naturally active person as I used to be a
dancer. I’m currently training for this year’s
Virgin London Marathon, which I will be
running for charity in aid of Breast Cancer
Care.
“
How did you prepare for your
current TV role on Strike Back?
Q
You have personal experience of
breast cancer...
Q
How long have you have had the all
clear for now?
Q
How has the experience changed
you?
Amanda: I was diagnosed in 2002, just
24 hours after giving birth to my second
son, Otis (now 9). They had found a large
lump in my breast and it was immediately
obvious it was very, very serious. The
lump was an aggressive form of breast
cancer and I had to have a mastectomy,
plus 6 weeks of radiotherapy and 7
months of chemotherapy. I was just
surprised how little I knew about breast
cancer and what would be involved in
terms of treatments and surgery, but I
was determined to fight it. I decided right
then that I would share my experience
publically, in the hope that other women
going through the same would not feel
alone. I wanted to encourage people to be
more open to talking about breast cancer.
Amanda: Touch wood, it is 5 years
now. When I got the all clear it was
just the most amazing feeling. I don’t
think the fear ever leaves you or the
understanding of your own mortality
once you have been threatened by
cancer. But that constant and daily threat
just dissipates slightly once they put that
red marker through your file.
Amanda: I am a very optimistic person
anyway, but I think I do feel much freer
now and much more confident to do the
things that I am interested in. I am less
shy about trying things such as running
the marathon next year. If I feel like doing
something I will give it a go; I’ve certainly
lost a little inhibition.
Q
What advice would you offer for
others going through their own
cancer battle?
Amanda: Look after yourself and stay
positive. Every surgeon I have met
has said, although they cannot prove
it, having a positive attitude makes an
enormous difference to your recovery. It
may be tough at times but stay positive
and keep smiling; it really can make a big
difference.
Follow Amanda on Twitter @meamandamealing. More on Advanced
Vision Care from 0800 652 4878, www.advancedvisioncare.co.uk
February 2012
your healthy living
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