Joanna Lumley is best known for playing the character of Patsy Stone in the nineties British sitcom, Absolutely Fabulous.

Over the years, she has appeared in several films and TV series including The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and, most recently, the Netflix series Fool Me Once.

The British actress, author and TV presenter has managed to maintain her svelte figure over the years without following a rigorous exercise regime.

The 78-year-old attributes her good health to a diet she has followed for more than 45 years - vegetarianism.

During an appearance on the popular podcast, Table Manners With Jessie and Lennie Ware in March 2022, Joanna discussed how she managed to ditch meat and fish altogether.

She explained: “I suddenly thought I am not going to do this anymore. I am not going to eat meat or fish. No more finished. Gone. But I am not a vegan. That is the next step, but I love cheese.”

Back in 2021, Joanna attributed the reason she is "never ill" to her vegetarian diet and her lifestyle.

She said: “I’ve been a vegetarian for more than 40 years and I’m never ill.

“The diet I love best is: eat stuff, mostly vegetables, not too much. And exercise? I have a tall thin house and I run up and down the stairs a lot!”

Vegetarians differ to vegans in that they still eat dairy products and eggs, although, some vegetarians choose to eat dairy products but not eggs, or eggs but not dairy products.

Eating a vegetarian diet means you don't eat meat, poultry, or fish. The diet is thought to be good for your heart health as it's high in fibre and involves eating lots of nuts, legumes, fruit and vegetables.

Joanna previously said she finds following a vegetarian diet easy, especially as she often travels to nations where the cuisine mainly involves consuming vegetables.

She continued to add: “They never expect you to stuff yourself with meat all the time. A lot of the cuisine of poorer countries is the food I love best, and that is because it doesn’t depend on meat.

“A lot of the time they do clever things with beautiful vegetables and spices and herbs and in the end you don’t miss anything.”

Rather than hitting the gym, Joanna said she moves with "vigour" which means doing gardening, housework or going up the stairs "two at a time".

Joanna has also admitted in the past that she doesn't eat any meals but snacks instead.

Speaking in 2015, she said: “I don’t eat any meals. I eat a bit throughout the day if I’m hungry, but not a big meal. I’ll have some nuts or maybe some crisps and that’s enough."