'Royle' star Johnston rules out sex scenes

Royle Family star Sue Johnston has announced that she will never film a sex scene again.

The 65-year-old actress, who first found fame on Brookside in the '80s, admitted that she feels too old to strip off on screen.

Speaking to Reveal, Johnston explained: "It's much better to show frolicking youngsters making love - no-one wants to see wrinklies at it. Like in real life, it should be done behind closed doors."

She continued: "It's great that TV shows are featuring relationships between older couples, but I think it's best to handle them in a more dignified way.

"It would be undignified to see people of a certain age frolicking on TV. And anyway, you have to have a body like Helen Mirren to get away with it - and, unfortunately, I'm no Helen Mirren."

Johnston has previously stripped off for the drama Goodbye Cruel World in 1992, which saw her appear topless at the age of 48.

Asked if she would ever consider plastic surgery, she replied: "I'm quite happy in my own skin, wrinkled as it is. I don't understand how some people go in for all these facelifts. How can you be an actor if you can't move your face? All these stuck faces with no expression look weird."

Johnston is currently appearing in BBC One comedy drama Jam & Jerusalem.