EastEnder Roberta's big secret gets smoked out ...

Sunday Mirror, Dec 21, 1997 by Sue Malins

When Irene Hills orders a large one and lights up a cigarette in The Queen Vic, you can tell she's an experienced smoker.

She's got the look of someone who lit up when she woke up, and has spent most of the day with a nicotine stick stuck to her lower lip.

Yet for actress Roberta Taylor every televised pull on a cigarette is a real test of both her willpower and acting ability - Roberta quit smoking 18 months ago after more than 20 years as a 25-a-day smoker.

And so far she's kept her resolve by sticking to herbal cigarettes when she's on the set in EastEnders.

"They taste so vile - like cabbage - that I can't say I'm really tempted," says Roberta, who plays Tony's trouble-making mum.

Roberta, who's married to Casualty star Peter Guinness, had thought about giving up many times before, but it took a tragedy to finally convince her to kick the habit.

"Like everyone else I'd made New Year's resolutions which never lasted more than a few days," she says.

"But this time I just woke up one morning and knew I wasn't going to smoke any more. And it was actually a lot easier than I thought."

Roberta believes her resolve was a delayed reaction to the sudden death of her mother, Win, in December three years ago.

"My mother was a heavy smoker and she died unexpectedly after getting what we all thought was just a heavy cold," says Roberta.

"My mum lived down the street from me. She'd been unwell and the doctor had come but he thought it was just a chill and gave her some Paracetamol.

"But my aunt who lived in the same block of flats was worried so I went down to nag her about having the doctor back.

"But by midnight she was dead from bronchial pneumonia."

Even though Roberta believed her mother's death was related to her smoking, it was a while before she gave up.

"My doctor told me it's quite normal to get a reaction to something this traumatic after about 18 months," she says.

"For some reason the reality of your own mortality really hits you then. I didn't even know I'd been thinking about it. But I knew this was the day I was going to stop.

"It wasn't that I didn't feel like another cigarette, I did. But I didn't have to wrestle with it.

"That day it just felt like my mother was watching me. I gave up because I didn't want to put my son through what I'd been through with my mum..

"In the end it turned out to be a lot easier than I expected.After only three days I felt like 'Hitler' was off my shoulder.

"I feel so much better for it. I've always walked a lot - I hate taking the Tube because I can't cope with ticket machines. I won't wear my glasses and I can't really see anything - but I've lots more energy now. I'm also thrilled with the money I'm saving on cigarettes and pot pourri to make the house smell OK!"

Roberta is confident that she will remain a smoke-free zone during the Christmas party season.

She hopes she'll certainly be more successful than when she gave up being a vegetarian after 14 meat-free years. "It was one night about six years ago I got really cold painting my house. I thought I needed something hot.

"So I gave in and ate my first sausage in 14 years. It was delicious!

"But I still eat healthily - mostly chicken and fish - and I love vegetables and fruit. Though I drink too much like we all do!"

Roberta is looking forward to a quiet time over Christmas - taking a seaside hotel break with her husband for a few days. Her son is spending the holiday with his girlfriend.

But on screen, Christmas will be a lot more hectic when Irene takes the season of goodwill to all men much more literally than her son, Tony, will like.

Irene will be caught canoodling with Terry, the father of Tony's former gay lover, Simon.

"Irene is planning a little dabble with Mr Gorgeous before she hits the HRT," Roberta says. "I love playing Irene. She has a nasty streak but she's a good laugh.

"When I was asked to play her I said I didn't mind what she was like as long as she didn't wear a cardigan!

10 TIPS TO HELP YOU QUIT

Quit, the group which offers practical help to people who want to stop smoking, has a FREE helpline on 0800 002200. It suggests this 10- point plan to help YOU stop smoking:

Make a date to stop and stick to it.

Keep busy to take your mind off cigarettes. Throw away ashtrays, lighters, unopened packs.

Drink plenty of fluids. Keep water or juice handy.

Get more active. Exercise helps you relax and can boost your morale. Walk more or use the stairs instead of the lift.

Think positively. Withdrawal can be unpleasant but it's a sign your body is recovering. Symptoms usually disappear after a couple of weeks.

Change your routine. Avoid shops, pubs or the place where you take a coffee/smoke break.

Allow no excuses. Don't use a crisis or even good news for "just one". There's no such thing. Cutting down is less likely to work than simply stopping outright.

Treat yourself. Think of the money you'll save and how you'll spend it.

Take care what you eat. If you need to snack, eat fruit, veg or sugar- free gum so you don't pile on the pounds.

Take one day at a time. Each day without a cigarette is good news for your health, your family and your pocket.