When my TV shows were cancelled I worked in a shoe shop, says Gavin & Stacey’s JOANNA PAGE

Joanna Page is a Welsh actress best known as Stacey Shipman in the hit BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, writes Lee Boyce.

He is also a TV presenter, has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and one of his first films was Love Actually, made when he was just 23.

The 48-year-old actor studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) and will appear in the upcoming series on Channel 4’s Taskmaster.

She is married to actor James Thornton and they live in Oxfordshire with their four children.

What did your parents teach you about money?

Mum and Nan making money doesn’t seem like such a scary topic.

My mother worked at Lloyds Bank and my father did car inspections. My mother was very organized because of her job, and although Nan didn’t have much money, she had a spend-some, save-some mentality.

When I was seven my mother opened a Post Office account for me and with the money she saved for my birthday she would say: ‘Buy yourself a toy, the rest goes into savings.’

All of this had an impact on me. I don’t have a lot of credit cards or debt; If I don’t have money to buy it, I won’t buy it. Save, buy later.

While I was at Rada, my mother helped me organize my money, and it was also a good job. I remember spending money on shoes on Portobello Road, it was a big learning experience. When I got married, he said: ‘Now I’m transferring everything; ‘You are a married woman.’

Have you ever struggled to make a living?

Different people and companies sponsored me to go to drama school and when I left at 21 my first job was at the Royal National Theater earning £250 a week.

It was my first time making money and it was exciting. But as a freelance actor, the money is unpredictable. You don’t know what your next job will be. At one point, I was unemployed for a year.

When James and I bought a new house in East Dulwich, south-east London, we were both starring in two different television series and believed all four would be commissioned for a second series.

Here we go, we thought, we have security. Then all shows were canceled shortly after.

It was scary but we got through it; me working in a shoe store and James doing voice-over work. Then, luckily, we started getting acting jobs again.

Tidy: Joanna with Gavin and Stacey co-star Mathew Horne

Have you ever been paid ridiculous amounts of money?

Gavin and Stacey didn’t pay well at all; lead actor Mathew Horne and I were laughing recently about how bad it was.

We were both complete and total unknowns. We were so grateful and I would do it for free.

But then I started doing commercials, fashion and modeling for make-up brands. It was great fun and made good money.

Also, James and I got married young at 24 years old. What we’ve made in the ten years since we’ve had kids is a stupid amount of money; He was there for us to do whatever we wanted with him.

What was the best year of your life financially?

Advertising and working with make-up brands earned us enough money to move from Dulwich to rural Wales in 2012 to start a family.

I was earning well; We just saved and saved.

What’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought for fun?

Clothes, bags and shoes when I was little.

When I was first invited to events like the Baftas, I wasn’t known enough to borrow clothes and I went through a period where I was constantly asking the question: ‘What am I going to wear?’

I was really into fashion but now I’m more comfortable with something practical. Expensive entertainment is now family holidays.

What was your biggest money mistake?

When James and I started making more money, we put more money toward the mortgage; I wish I had learned about investing earlier.

We dabbled in stocks and shares but I put an end to that; I was cautious because of my mother and grandmother. It was scary and I didn’t have the confidence to get through things.

We bought a holiday home in Bulgaria. We’ve always bought property but it was a mistake and the first and only time we lost money.

I also once purchased clothes from a luxury store, none of them fit and I missed the return date and they refused to give me a refund. Eventually James pleaded my case, posing as my manager, and was able to obtain a credit score.

Best money decision you’ve ever made?

I’m buying my first house near Wandsworth Common in south-west London. I walked in with my Jack Russell and immediately said: ‘I’ll take it.’

I sold it for a profit, James sold his house in Crystal Palace and together we bought our house in East Dulwich.

We made a lot of money when we sold this. We have a house in Oxfordshire, flats we rent in Swansea and a country house in the Welsh countryside.

Are you going to give away your money or spend it all?

Because of my background, I want to make sure that I can help my children, support them financially, and that they are safe.

I realize they have a more comfortable life than I had at their age. My oldest is about to turn 13 but he really wants a job, especially to get his first phone; I keep telling him I didn’t have a phone until I was 21.

I have a very good relationship with children. I’ll splurge on Christmas and birthdays, but not the rest of the year. As my Mother and Nan taught me, if they get money for their birthdays, they can spend some and save some.

Do you have a pension?

I got my equity retirement [a scheme for the performing arts and entertainment trade union]which was great.

But as a mother, this is very difficult; I spent eight years away from this by having children. When I left everyone was at the same level but then they all progressed.

What would you do if you were chancellor?

I would make the situation more equal when it comes to women and help those returning to work after having children; I would try to put things on equal terms.

What is your number one financial priority?

I keep the money coming in and I’m committed to it – I wrote a book last year and recently launched a podcast with James called Lush.

I want to retire one day; I don’t know if I’ll be able to do this with four children and having the last one at 44.

With the extra money coming in, I’m thinking about how I can invest it now to make sure I don’t just screw it up in day-to-day life.

• Joanna worked with Scottish Widows helping people feel more confident about taking their first steps into investing and highlighting how saving even a small amount on a regular basis can contribute to a brighter financial future.