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Broadcaster and Former British Tennis Player
Annabel juggles being an energetic mother of three with a successful career as a television personality. Formerly British tennis champion, she retired from professional tennis at the age of 21 and has since been seen on our screens anchoring Wimbledon coverage, hosting Channel 4’s Treasure Hunt, competing as ‘Solitaire’ in Celebrity Wrestling, competing successfully in BBC1’s Superstars and hosting ‘The Flying Picnic’ for ITV.
Annabel also champions raising awareness of child obesity in the UK.
Q. Who or what has most inspired you in your life?
A. As a child, Chris Evert inspired me to take up tennis. She was my ultimate role model in terms of the way that she handled pressure and dealt with being a professional tennis player. She was always calm under pressure and yet had this incredible steely determination.
Another truly inspirational woman is Dame Ellen McArthur; there are very few women that you come across in your lifetime who have that incredible singleminded-ness, ability to cope in extraordinary circumstances and are a real inspiration to others, and she is one of them.
Q. Who do you consider to be the most inspirational people in the world?
A. It may sound like a cliché but I find Nelson Mandela a real inspiration. There really is something quite remarkable about him.
I also think Madonna is a real inspiratioin – love her or hate her, you can’t deny that the energy and self-belief that she has in everything that she does is totally inspirational. She never waivers in what she chooses to do, she pushes the boundaries and doesn’t care about what anyone else thinks of her. Her enthusiasm and energy for all that she does is remarkable.
The third person who is an inspiration to me is a friend of mine, Louise. She has 6 kids, is a trained barrister who works full time and yet nothing ever flusters or phases her. She can handle any pressure and she is the first person that I would go to if I needed advice as I know that she would give sound, solid advice. She is truly extraordinary and I love that she has this powerful brain as well as this soft motherly side to her.
Q. What’s your definition of success?
A. This is tricky – some people deem success to be medals and financial wealth but I see far more as finding that unbelievably happy and also difficult balance between friends, family and work. Nowadays, people see celebrity as success but that seems so shallow – Success is being happy with yourself and having fulfilling relationships with the people closest to you.
Q. What is the key to success?
A. Not confuse success with material achievement. You should always follow your dreams and do what makes you happy as you’ll be so much more likely to be successful that way. You will never achieve success by doing things because you think you ought to do or because other think you should.
Q. What boundaries have you had to overcome in order to achieve success?
A. Self doubt and lack of belief in myself. This was particularly true during my tennis career and I would love to go back to that time with the mindset and outlook that I have now as I would enjoy it far more.
Q. What is the most important piece of advice you’ve been given?
A. You regret far more the things you don’t do than the things you do and to never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. I always seize every opportunity that comes my way and try not to procrastinate as it is such a waste of time.
Q. What advice would you give to women looking to get ahead in their career?
A. Don’t’ worry about what other people think. Take ego out of the equation as that will always be the barrier to success and have conviction in your decisions.
Q. What’s the most important thing in your life?
A. Family without a shadow of a doubt.
Q. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you?
A. Having children – I felt true contentment for the first time when I had my first child. Everything seemed to make a little bit more sense then.
Q. What’s the worst?
A. Touch wood I’ve been incredibly lucky and I can’t think of anything. Many things that have happened to me over the years that are not good but I don’t dwell too much on the negative side of things and so no one incident stands out. I firmly believe that ultimately you are responsible for every decision that you take in your life and that sometimes it’s easy to blame others when things don’t go the way that you want them to but I try to find the good in people and in situations. I’m ultimately responsible for all of my own decisions and I don’t look to blame as it is such a wasted emotion.
Q. What’s the best mistake you’ve ever made?
A. You learn more from mistakes than successes and this is particularly true in sport where you really do learn so much more from losses than wins.
Q. What’s your favourite item of clothing?
A. I’m happiest in jeans and boots – or running shoes.
Q. Describe your style?
A. Relaxed with an edge!
Q. How does hosiery fit into your life?
A. With evening wear and with dresses or skirts during the day.
Q. Suspenders, body control, opaques or sheers?
A. Opaques in the winter and sheers in the evening.
Q. Silk or cotton?
A. Silk.
Q. Gym or Couch?
A. I don’t go to the gym as I’m not into staring at other people’s thongs! So, neither – I much prefer a run outside with friends or doing a dance class or pilates.
Q. What makes you feel sexy?
A. A couple of glasses of champagne usually does the trick!
Q. One word to describe yourself...
A. Vibrant.
Q. What’s your secret weapon?
A. My husband Mel.
