Emotional ties: Dad’s Army actress Emily Atack on her lucky scarf and her grandma’s crucifix

Dad’s Army actress Emily Atack

I was going to audition for Dad’s Army when my sister Martha told me I needed to look more in character. We rummaged in the boot of our mum’s car and found this scarf. Martha YouTubed ‘how to tie a 1940s headscarf’ and said, ‘You’ll get the part now.’ I did – it’s my lucky scarf.

When I’ve needed guidance, my faith has pulled me through. I believe there’s something much bigger that looks after us and I pray every night to this crucifix, which my late grandmother Betty gave to me 15 years ago. It hangs on the wall above my bed.

My dad Keith [a musician] used to let my brother, sister and me use his studio to ‘lay down some tracks’ when we were children. On this cassette recording, I’m singing a made-up song, my sister is trying to copy me and our brother George is blowing raspberries. I know it by heart.

 This family photo was taken on my 27th birthday at the Charlotte Street Hotel in London. My parents are divorced so it’s rare to have us all together. George is 25 and we also have a half-sister Nancy, who is four.

My mum Kate [Robbins, an actor and impressionist] bought me this box of paints for Christmas a couple of years ago. I like messing around with the colours. Now, if I am trying to lay off the wine, I put on Netflix and get the paints out. They help me to relax and distract me from my busy life.

I left home with Martha when I was 17. I said, ‘I’m going to get a part in a sitcom and pay for us to live.’ And I did – in ITV drama Blue Murder and The Inbetweeners. We bought this cushion and now I don’t feel I’ve made my stamp on wherever I’m living until I have unpacked it.

My uncle Simon [Shelton Barnes, a former Teletubbies actor] died suddenly this year. We are a close family so I had some candles with his picture made for my cousins and me. He was a dancer so we played ‘Lord of the Dance’ at his funeral.

I first wore fake tan when I was 13 – I am naturally pale-skinned and freckly – and I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this will change my life.’ I was the only girl who wore fake tan daily at school and I looked a lot older than I was.