Sally Lindsay: At 48, my doctors refused to believe I was going through menopause

Born in Stockport in 1973, Sally Lindsay started her career in theatre and stand-up. She was catapulted to fame when she took on the role of Shelley Unwin in Coronation Street. After five years, she left to pursue theatre roles before starring in Mount Pleasant, Scott and Bailey, Still Open All Hours and Dial M for Middlesbrough. Lindsay is an executive producer, writer and lead star in The Madame Blanc Mysteries, in which she plays widowed antiques dealer Jean Blanc. In June, she was awarded an MBE for her services to drama. She lives in London with her husband and their twin sons. I grew up below a nightclub. From the age of four to 10, my mum and dad ran a nightclub above our home. It was mad and so much fun. We’d run up on a Saturday morning and go and nick all the pennies and whatever was on the floor. And then we’d have a full-fat Coke. It was so 70s. It was always a great space for parties and meant we could always have our birthday parties there. But it did mean that if we needed our parents on a night, we’d have to go and knock on the door and speak to one of the bouncers. Someone told me that an agent lived in the next town. So I caught the bus and knocked on his door. I asked him to be my agent, and he put me up for parts; some I didn’t get and some I did. I worked hundreds of jobs until I had my first theatre break after auditioning for Girls’ Night Out. I walked to the Strand Theatre, and there was a huge line of girls round the block who were all about five foot and about three stone with dark hair. I remember thinking, “What’s going on here? I’ve come all this way down, and they’re not looking for me”. I was like a giant at the end. But I landed the job. I performed in that show on and off for far too long because I was having such a lovely time playing every theatre in the country. It was the most mental time, but I absolutely enjoyed it.I still have best friends from Coronation Street. It was the Golden Age of TV, with about 14 million people a night watching it. We got on really well, and I had some amazing storylines. I discovered what a good and bad script was. I worked with some amazing actors and some not very good actors. I always found bad behaviour completely pointless. But back in the day, actors would be waxing lyrical. Some people weren’t very nice to the runners or would slag the writing off. About 80 per cent of actors are fantastic, but you do get the odd one that’s just a bit of a diva, really. Thankfully, there’s no time for kicking off in TV now. I’m 53, and I’m still going through the perimenopause. When I was about 48, my skin started getting itchy. I was getting really hot. I experienced terrible anxiety. I was thinking I’d upset people, and I’m just not that person at all. It was debilitating, and then I suddenly couldn’t finish my sentences or remember anything. I was thinking, what is going on with me? A male doctor said, “No, you’re far too young; you’re getting your period, you can’t possibly be going through perimenopause”. I had all the symptoms, but another doctor told me not to bother pursuing perimenopause medication. They said I wouldn’t qualify [for HRT] on the NHS. However, my friend put me onto [menopause specialist] Dr Naomi Potter. I had a consultation with her and she said, “You are absolutely perimenopausal”. That night, she sent HRT round to my house. I’ll never ever be able to say thank you enough. I’m not kidding you, within about six weeks, the fog began to lift. I’ve been on HRT for four years, and it’s been amazing. I write from my shed in the bottom of the garden. It’s like what Virginia Wolfe said about needing a room of one’s own. I’m the same. You need that space, don’t you? I bought it in the middle of lockdown for about £11,000. The boys are allowed in it, but they’re not allowed to touch anything. They can sit on the little couch. It has my desk in it and my massive computer, so I can edit on it. I’ve got my souvenirs and pictures of all my friends and the jobs I’ve done. I absolutely love it. I start work, and that’s it, and I stay in there for hours. I’m not one of those who needs to go to the Shetlands or somewhere like that to write. I’m fine at the bottom of the garden. If you don’t compromise in love, you’d be going out with yourself, and that’s weird because we’re all different people. Steve [her husband] and I couldn’t be any different. I’m really outgoing and a real people pleaser, whereas Steve just doesn’t suffer any fools – we’ll be at a party, and if someone’s boring, he just won’t talk to them. I’m so proud of him for that. I couldn’t do it. One of the biggest choices in your life is finding the right person and not settling. I was on my own for ages and was very happy in my own skin. I think a partner needs to add something to your life as opposed to take something away. I think a lot of people find someone to make them complete, and you should be complete before you start looking. The Madame Blanc Mysteries is out now on 5