"I love men and Mr Right will turn up"
Josie Lawrence has just embarked on the biggest challenge of her life.
She has already excelled in some of the most intimidating comedy gigs – the improvisation game Whose Line Is It Anyway? and stand-up shows with The Comedy Store.
She’s also amazed those who’d pigeon-holed her as a comic by winning critical acclaim in sought-after theatrical roles, such as Anna in The King And I and Kate in The Taming Of The Shrew.
But now, as they say in showbiz, for something completely different.
Lawrence, 43, is undertaking a gruelling 2,000km trek across the Great Wall of China to raise funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
As she sits sipping a cappuccino in her favourite east London cafe before setting off on her adventure, she admits she’d only ever walked to the shops and back before agreeing to do the trek.
She’s never camped before, yet committed herself to almost four months of sleeping in a tent in a desert.
She’s petrified of heights, but will climb the Yanshan mountains which have brought vertigo sufferers to their knees.
She’s been warned that her knee won’t withstand the exertion, so has had to undergo keyhole surgery and will have to wear a knee brace throughout the trek.
Why is she putting herself through such torture?
“I needed a new challenge,” she shrugs. “I enjoy my job. But I’m in my 40s and the last time I was home I told my mum I felt there was something else I wanted to do.
“I got back to London that night and the first letter I opened was from Breakthrough saying: ‘Do you fancy a change?’ I phoned them first thing the next day.”
Breakthrough’s The Women’s Great Walk of China will be the first ever all-female trek across the famous landmark.
But Lawrence is more interested in raising money than making history, and she has good reason to support the charity.
Her well-loved neighbour died from the disease, as did her best friend’s mum and an aunt who shared her stage name - her real name is Wendy.
She’s done a few deeds for Breakthrough over the past 10 years – “judged cake competitions and presented awards dos” – but nothing on this scale.
Now she’s prepared to live off her savings so she can dedicate herself to the project.
For months, every spare minute was spent writing sponsorship letters, planning fund-raising events and begging other women to join her on the walk.
Did she persuade any of her famous friends to take part?
“I don’t have many famous friends,” she laughs. “Honestly, I don’t.”
Just then, as if on cue, Tommy Walsh from Ground Force saunters into the cafe and greets Lawrence warmly.
The pair chat about the refurbishment work that Walsh is carrying out on his new home which is next to Lawrence’s, the two books he’s writing, Lawrence’s charity walk and her impending knee surgery.
“Charlie’s going on the walk too, isn’t she?” asks Walsh.
He’s referring to his Ground Force colleague Charlie Dimmock, who will join Lawrence on the Great Walk of China for three weeks.
As Walsh turns to leave, clutching a chunky sandwich, he teases Lawrence that sexual activity will help exercise her post-op knee.
She explodes into raucous laughter. “There’s no chance of that,” she bellows. “Not since 1996.”
True enough, that’s the last time Lawrence was in a relationship. “I’ve had a few dates since then,” she whispers in case any cafe customers overhear. “But nothing serious.”
Lawrence is attractive, outgoing and popular – so is she too choosy? “No,” she insists. “I’ve had lots of boyfriends so I can’t complain. But now it’s about finding someone. He’ll turn up one day – maybe on the Great Wall of China.”
Like many women who weren’t whisked up the aisle in her 20s or 30s, Lawrence has felt pressure to find a partner.
“But people have given up on me now,” she giggles.
“I keep asking them to fix me up but they won’t.
“I’ve done the dinner party thing and used to think: ‘I’m just like Bridget Jones’. Then I thought: ‘No I’m Bridget Jones’ older sister – I’ve got 10 to 12 years on her’.
“But then I look at the divorce rate and wonder if I’d be single now even if I did marry.”
Some people have suggested that she’s a lesbian, a suggestion that she takes in her stride. “I don’t mind – they can think that if they want.
“But I’m not. I wish I was – there’d probably be more choice. But I love men too much – damn them!”
As for children, Lawrence knows she’s probably left it too late to have her own. And she adopts a faraway look as she says: “I’ve enjoyed my career, I’ve got a great set of friends, and I’m really kind to my mum.
"In that respect I feel fine. But because I didn’t meet the right bloke I didn’t have children, although I love children.
“I did think of adopting. But now, in a way, this walk is my baby and travelling is my future. The walk has kind of become my child – I’m finally doing something I’m scared of.
“OK, so I didn’t have a child, but maybe my life is leading me in another direction. I was never much of a traveller, but maybe that’s where life will take me now.”
:: To find out more about the Women’s Great Walk of China, visit GreatWalkofChina.org.
To sponsor Josie, visit www.justgiving.com/josielawrence
