I don’t know what I was that drew me to Ingrid in the first place. I think it might be her autobiography which I saw in the library and all the great actors she worked with. Then there were the films such as Casablanca and For Whom the Bell Tolls which I loved.

Of course she was stunningly beautiful but there was something different about her which many people have mentioned – her purity. At first I really did believe she was like the angelic characters she played but on reading many books about her I discovered she was human like he rest of us. That didn’t put me off. In fact it has made me even more intrigued by her the contrast between her turbulent private life and her successful career.

The show I mentioned featured a couple of TV interviews. She came across as quite shy and unassuming. She briefly mentioned her regret at not spending more time with her children but as she said many times her career was her life.

She said the reason for her autobiography was to tell the truth as when she was dead people would write what they wanted. But it’s a shame her autobiography is not as “truthful” as it could be. I remember at the time reading the book she said near the end she would keep working right until the end and besides she could always play a witch! I think she must have known that she didn’t have long to live.

I remember when she died how upset I was. There were so many tributes to her and of course the big Rossellini scandal was brought up. How times have changed. I might not agree with some of the decisions she took in her life but she’ll always be a heroine of mine. A woman who knew what she wanted and lived her life, her way.