TV star Norris angry at lack of roles for older women

'Spooks' actress Hermione Norris has hit out at a lack of decent roles for older actresses.

Norris, 43, branded the likes of 'Sex And The City', featuring four women in their mid-30s and 40s, “insulting”.

She told the Radio Times: “When you get to my age, the conversations women have – the preoccupations, the frustrations, the grief – are never represented.”

Norris, who made her name as Karen Marsden alongside James Nesbitt, Helen Baxendale and Fay Ripley in 'Cold Feet' in 1997, said: “Something like 'Sex And The City' was insulting – women all clawing on to their youth when there’s such ripe territory in honestly exploring women’s lives as they get older.”

The actress, who plays the lead in BBC1’s new sci-fi drama 'Outcasts', said: “It isn’t just television, of course. If you pick up women’s magazines, they are designed to make you feel s****er and to buy a product. It’s tyrannical.”

Since making her name in 'Cold Feet', the mother of two, who is married to writer-producer Stephen Wheeler, has enjoyed leading roles in ITV crime drama 'Wire In The Blood' and 'Kingdom' alongside Stephen Fry, as well as playing MI5 counter terrorism section chief Ros Myers in BBC show 'Spooks'.

Asked whether she would resurrect her 'Cold Feet' character, she replied simply: “Never say never.”