Eileen Atkins, 87, is the actress who found fame in 1966 on Broadway in The Killing of Sister George. She co-created TV series Upstairs, Downstairs and The House of Eliott and wrote the screenplay for Mrs Dalloway. 

She has won a Bafta, an Emmy and three Oliviers and her film and TV roles include The Dresser, Cranford, The Crown and Doc Martin. She lives in west London.

How did your childhood influence your attitude to money? 

We lived in a council estate in Tottenham, north London. My father was an electricity meter reader, my mother a seamstress who worked at home. I’d take bundles of smocked pieces for pretty dresses up to the factory when I was seven.

My father never bought anything on the “never-never”: you either had the money or saved up. I saved all my pocket money for books as we didn’t have any in the house. My first was Josie, Click and Bun Again by Enid Blyton.

I cannot bear borrowing money and have never had anybody “do” anything with my money. Everybody tells me I’m foolish. But if I hadn’t got married, I’d never have got into trouble with money. I always have what I call enough and think I’m the sensible one.

I’d rather have it all under the bed and pull it out when needed. But I save at the bank and that’s it.

What was your first job? 

I was “Baby Eileen”, dragged to dancing classes aged six, earning 15 shillings a turn at a working men’s club. Eric Morecambe asked me what I was paid; he said: “That’s what we got.” My parents kept some so when I wanted a bicycle it was saved up for. They were always on the edge: you couldn’t ask for cake on Thursday. When my father’s pay packet came on Friday we celebrated with fish and chips.