Laura Whitmore talks setting boundaries, Pilates and turning 40
There’s always a lot of eyes on Laura Whitmore: At work, when she’s watched by millions, and on a much smaller scale, when she’s at home in London, with her husband, daughter, and (adorable) little dog.
But neither scenario is where the 39-year-old feels the pressure. She tells Women’s Health that when she recorded an episode of Timotei’s new limited podcast series, A Gentle Start: The Showercast, she was truly out of her comfort zone - because the only eyes on her were her own, and it’s one of the most intimate things she’s ever done.
She tells WH: ‘The worst thing to do is recording a podcast looking at yourself in the mirror. I've never done that before. I couldn't look myself in the eyes.
‘When you look down the camera lens, people see you, but you don't see yourself. It actually felt quite exposing and it was quite vulnerable, because it was recorded in a bathroom, and that is usually a place where you are all by yourself.
‘I actually had to stop myself, because in my head, I would constantly be like, “Oh my God. Look at the state of your face”, or, “Oh my God. Do I need to pluck a hair? Oh my God, look at the state of those eyebrows”.'
A Gentle Start: The Showercast sees six celebrities opening up about how they’ve applied the concept of ‘slow living’ to their lives. Research by the Swedish haircare brand found that 86% of people are currently embracing the trend, which involves making a mindful shift to embracing a kind, calm, and soft approach to life.
To promote her episode, Laura was forced to put the concept of ‘slow living’ to the ultimate test when she was painted by world-renowned artist Carolyn Roper. The eight-hour process resulted in two stunning photos, one which shows Laura perfectly camouflaged in plain sight among timothy grass, rosemary, and jasmine, and another reclining in a roll-top bath.
She says: ‘I have learned I am not very good at sitting still! In an age where we're completely overpowered by AI, it was really back to basics. The skill of these two women…I was sitting on my arse, and I could barely do that. I was like, “I really want to scratch my nose, but I can't”.
The 10-minute episodes have been especially created to be listened to as you get ready in the morning, after Timotei’s survey found one of the top pockets for gentleness is when taking a bath or shower (43%).
The first episode sees Laura musing about her life’s greatest lessons and her hopes for the future, and how she has learnt to advocate for herself, big topics which she expanded on during our conversation, highlights of which are shared below...
Becoming a mum
'Something happens to you when you've got a kid and you're just like, "you can fuck off and you can get out of my way. I've got to do this now". If I have to pick her [daughter, Stevie Ré] up from preschool at a certain time, that's the time I get there, and I won't be delayed, because that's my priority.'
Professional and personal boundaries
'I'm still trying to navigate what's acceptable and what's not. There's things which was allowed in my mother's generation, and even 20-30 years ago which is't acceptable now. It's why I hope for the next generation. I do talk in the podcast about Gina Martin and how she really helped bring in the the voyeurism act in April 2019. But up to then, like when I started my career, people were taking pictures up your skirt all the time, like it was insane.
I remember talking to an older presenter who I hugely respect and love, and she was like, "Oh, don't worry, Laura. That's what everyone does". But I guess she was used to it happening to her, and it would almost become normalised that that was the okay thing. It took a younger generation, someone not even in the industry, to go, "this isn't OK".
'I think we need to create a culture where we can speak up, where we're allowed to speak up, because I've had friends in the public eye and not in the public eye, who have issues in a workplace, and they're too scared that if they'll speak up, they'll lose their job.
'I think we need to be careful that inappropriate behaviour isn't trivialised. We should be making it better for the next generations.
'I think people are held accountable eventually. Sadly, you know, it's like, Why do you have to wait 20 years or 10 years. But like, look at history. History writes itself.'
Looking back with kindness
'I wish I was nicer to myself in my 20s. I look at myself, and I'm like, "You did look great. Why were you so embarrassed?" I remember, like, once years ago, I was away on a work trip, and then there were paps all over the beach, and I was like, "Oh, I don't want to go down there. I don't them to have pictures me in my bikini". And so I didn't go to the beach.
'That was a missed opportunity. I should have been able to go to the beach. Now I'm kind of, like, "I actually don't give a shit. Take the bad angles, whatever".
'I think now my 20 year old self would be like, "good on you, live for each moment".'
Ageing is a privilege - and so is happiness
'My worst thing is people asking are you going to have a party for your 40th I was just like, bloody hell. I'm still just 39 Give me time. I can't even think about that. Age is such a privilege, it really is, and I feel so lucky with the opportunities that I have. \
'You look at the people who don't necessarily get to even come into this decade, and we're just still young, but I think you're a little bit more self assured, and I just feel very privileged to be here, to still be here, doing this and being happy.
'When we meet somebody, we ask them, "Do you have a family? Are you married? What do you do for a living?" We never really go, "Are you happy?" Because it feels like so insistent, but it's such a really important question,'
Pilates is her go to
'I'm not a huge fan of going to the gym for a full on cardio sesh, but I enjoy running outside and I love, I love reformer Pilates, when I have time. I train with my brilliant friend Gabby Noble, she has a place called Exhale Pilates. I like feeling strong rather than, ‘I'm here to lose weight’. It's about getting that strength in your core, and I think that's really important.'
She doesn't travel light
'I'm a little bit of a nester for somebody who travels a lot. My husband [Love Island commentator Ian Sterling] always jokes, because I'll get to a hotel and I'll light my candle from home, because I like it to smell like me, or put a picture up on the wall of my family, or the dog, if the dog's not there.
'For two months this summer, I was working in Dublin, and then we were working in New York, so we're away for a month, but I still have a little bag of stuff with my products, like, the same shampoo and conditioner that you always use, that you might not be able to get in America. And those little things let you nest and have your little safe space, even if you're in a different country.'
‘A Gentle Start: The Showercast’ from Timotei features:
Episode 1: Laura Whitmore: Taking Control of Your Destiny
Episode 2: Martine McCutcheon: Mind, Body, McCutcheon
Episode 3: Amber Gill: Empathy to Entrepreneur
Episode 4: Ashley James: Juggle is Massive
Episode 5: Chessie King: Calm in the Chaos
Timotei’s ‘A Gentle Start: The Showercast’ can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music and other leading podcast platforms.
More celebs on Women's Health...
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