Emmerdale's Louise Jameson thinks embracing naturally white hair has boosted her career

Louise Jameson thinks stopping dying her hair helped her land an 'Emmerdale' role.

The 70-year-old star made her first appearance in the ITV soap as Rhona Goskirk's mother Mary on Tuesday evening (01.03.22), and she thinks embracing her naturally white tresses has given her career a boost.

She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It’s extraordinary, but literally, since I’ve stopped dyeing my hair, there’s been lots of work coming in. I’ve had eight or nine offers,” says Louise.

“I thought it would be the opposite, but no, work’s actually expanded for me. Some actors try to look younger and manage it brilliantly, but I think if there’s an air of desperation about trying to hang on to your youth, then it does limit your casting.

“I’m very happy being 70 and letting my hair go white and not going down the Botox route. I think that age has to be embraced naturally.”

The former 'EastEnders' actress - who previously played Rosa di Marco on the BBC show - admitted she has never planned for retirement.

She explained: "My dad was an insurance broker and he sold life policies. I can remember him saying, ‘We’ve really got to get you a pension sorted’. And I said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be working right up until the day I die’.

“This was way back when I was 20. I never ever anticipated retiring. I write now and direct too, so I’ve got fingers in lots of pies.”

Louise - who actually appeared in 'Emmerdale' 50 years ago as the soap's first ever murder victim - was keen to make sure her new character Mary wasn't an old person just "represented in cardigans and on Zimmer frames".

She added: “I was going to talk to 'Emmerdale' about it when I went in for the chat. But before I’d drawn breath, they gave me an outline of where she was heading and it stopped me in my tracks. It was better than anything I could have come up with.”