She was the epitome of the fresh-faced, ever-beautiful girl-next-door in Gavin and Stacey. Which is presumably what Superdrug saw when they decided to make Joanna Page their new face and star of the brand's new TV ad campaign. We caught up with Joanna, 33, who's married to Emmerdale star James Thornton, 34, to try to find the key to her natural beauty (we’re sure it helps that even her dad moisturises!).
"I see myself as down to earth, quite simple, tomboyish. James sees me as really feminine and sparky and positive – a bright, shining star.
"I looked at myself the other day and thought, 'Am I ever going to age?' My mum's nearly 60 and she looks really good and my dad and all his sisters all look really dinky and really, really young. I think I've got their genes. I hardly drink and I've never smoked, but I do sunbathe because I love it when my freckles come out.
"I never dreamed of modelling. I'm comfy in front of the camera, being an actress, but this is a dream come true. I wouldn't wear make-up to go to college, but I'd dress up as different people. So to have the opportunity now to do this with Superdrug and pose in front of the camera is just so much fun. To have bright red lips and smoky eyes and have my hair done and then just stand there and pout is brilliant.
"Superdrug Vitamin E Illuminating Moisture Cream is absolutely amazing. It's not expensive at all, it smells of holidays and it just illuminates your face – Mum can vouch for this because she lathers it on all over her body. It gives you a glow and really wakes you up.
"I'm naturally blonde. My dad's 58 and he’s still got blonde hair and it's thick with a bit of a wave – perfect hair. My mother has got really fine, rubbish hair. I've got her hair, in Dad's colour.
"My dad uses Nivea and my mum used to use Oil of Ulay. She used to tell me always to put moisturiser on with an upward movement so you don't pull the skin and not to forget your neck and your chest. And to backcomb your hair to make it look a bit thicker. That's what I've inherited from her! And positivity – being ambitious, believing in yourself and not worrying about what other people think about you.
"I've never dieted or had a problem with my weight. But now I'm in my 30s, I think it's important to start working out, not just to look good, but for your heart. You forget about that, don't you. But I'm getting older now and should be in my prime. If I'm going to get really fit, it has to be now.
"I'll be guaranteed to do something at least three times a week, even if it's just doing 50 sit-ups before I go to bed or a few press-ups when I get up or taking the dog for a run down to the newsagents or going for a swim. As long as you do something that gets your heart going every day.
"I don't know if they’re doing any more Gavin and Stacey Christmas specials. We'll never do a new series but I wouldn’t be surprised if I got a phone call in a couple of years to say we’re doing another special and that would be really nice. I love working with them all; they’re so much fun. It would be lovely for us all to meet up, have a laugh and spend a few weeks messing around."
