It’s been a tough few months for Andrea McLean but it’s hard to imagine that, just six months ago, she felt so down she didn’t want to leave her house. The popular Loose Women presenter was heartbroken after splitting from her husband of three years Steve Toms, 43, last Christmas. And having her break-up played out in the public eye left Andrea feeling fragile and battling panic attacks. When fans stopped her in the street to offer support, she’d burst into tears.
[ASSETHERE=image]
'This is going to be my best year, after such a rubbish time'
But when Closer meets Andrea, 42, she tells us she’s really excited about the future and is up for trying anything, including acting for the first time – a passion from college that she hasn’t explored until now. Fresh from starring in new gangster film A Landscape Of Lies as sexually liberated therapist Dr Andrea Grey, she says: “I had to do scenes that took me out of my comfort zone and I loved it. It feels liberating to reinvent myself – this is going to be my best year, after such a rubbish time.”
And Andrea – who’s mum to Amy, five, from her relationship with Steve, as well as Finlay, 10, from her first marriage to produce – even shared her first lesbian kiss with Hollyoaks actress Christina Baily, 31, in the film. She laughs: “I had to neck half a bottle of Jack Daniel’s to get over my nerves! Christina was lovely and we got it over with quickly, but it was funny how all the male crew suddenly appeared! I had to kiss a few guys in the film, too, which was odd, as I’ve only ever had two boyfriends – and I married both of them!”
And wearing a slinky number and posing for our shoot proved no problem for Andrea. She says: “When I was younger, sexy shoots like this filled me with dread, but now I think, ‘Why not?’ I’m growing in confidence and feeling more adventurous since my split.”
Since Andrea’s marriage split, she’s been inundated with men asking her out, including a high-profile married man, who she tactfully refuses to name. But she says: “He wasn’t happy at all when I gave him the brush-off via email, which made me feel very uncomfortable. Thinking about dating is daunting and I’m nowhere near ready to start another relationship after feeling so hurt by my marriage breakdown, but I’m enjoying being single.”
However, Andrea admits she doesn’t always realise that men are chatting her up and adds: “I was at a party recently, speaking to this guy, who followed me round all night. When he left, he tried to kiss me goodbye. I didn’t realise he had been trying it on!”
'Thinking about dating is daunting and I'm nowhere near ready to start another relationship... but I'm enjoying being single'
And while Andrea – who moved her parents Betty and Jack into her new Surrey house after her marriage split – isn’t short of offers, she says she’d never marry again, saying: “I’m feeling sexier than ever, but I’m not ready for love. I’m enjoying being by myself and if I told my dad I was getting married again, he’d pass out! And I’m not even thinking about bedroom activities – my parents live with me so, even if I wanted to, it would be pretty impossible!”
