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How I get ready: Julian Clary

I don’t really like going out, so getting ready is a bit of an ordeal. I find a bit of yodelling helps. There is a woman called Mary Schneider, who yodels the classics: listen to her Wilhelm Tell Overture and I guarantee it’ll put you in a good mood.

I shower, exfoliate, shave and moisturise, which doesn’t take long. It’s the deciding what to wear that takes the time. I try things on, and what might look good in the bathroom mirror doesn’t look good in the bedroom mirror, so I change my mind a lot. I drive myself mad with it, and there’s usually a pile of clothes on the bed while I eventually go back to what I started with.

Depending on where I am going, I dress from my own wardrobe in my bedroom or my showbiz wardrobe in the basement. If I’ve got to appear on stage, it will be the showbiz wardrobe: the stuff people expect me to wear – sequined jackets and jewel-encrusted shoes. But if I’m off-duty, its the upstairs wardrobe. My current favourite is an Issey Miyake black suit: it’s comfortable and light. Sometimes there’s a bit of crossover and I run up and down the stairs.

Eyes are very important, so I do a bit of eyelash curling, a bit of hiding the blemishes, and put some powder on. It looks like I’ve made an effort, but not like I’m wearing makeup. I’m least pleased with my posture. I tend to slouch, so have to remind myself to keep my shoulders back.

Try to get a compliment off someone before you leave, to boost the confidence. I also like to put a limit on the evening. I can be jolly and extrovert for three hours, so at 8pm I tell myself I will be home by 11pm and it will be over.

Julian Clary is playing Cinderella at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, until 18 January.

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