The 5-minute Interview: Nell McAndrew, Model/TV presenter

'I'm not posh, I just have the luxury of someone doing my make-up'

'Usually if I cook something my husband doesn't want it' (Getty Images)

Nell McAndrew, 34, began her career as a glamour model and was the original Lara Croft model for the video game Tomb Raider. She will be taking part in the EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon, the race against climate change, on 26 October

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

Out for a run, with my boy in a running chariot.

A phrase I use far too often...

"You know what I mean," I think it's quite a Yorkshire thing.

I wish people would take more notice of...

How important fitness is to your lifestyle. I think people associate exercise with losing weight but it doesn't have to be about that. The key thing is improving your fitness level, your lifestyle, and making sure you are looking after your heart. And if you've got children, encouraging them to be athletic is equally important.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

I didn't realise I was going to meet Denise Lewis today. I think she's amazing, I really admire her. I'm just in awe of all these people and for me to be working with them is fantastic. I'm surprised every single day with things my little boy does.

A common misperception of me is...

That I'm posh. I'm a real person, it's just that when I'm at work I usually have the luxury of someone blow-drying my hair and doing my make-up.

I am not a politician but...

I wouldn't want to be. But if I were, I'd make sure that exercise was on school timetables. In a lot of schools it gets pushed out, but I believe exercise is important for building confidence.

I'm good at...

Motivating people.

I'm very bad at...

Cooking. Usually if I cook something my husband doesn't want it. And I'm very bad at speaking in public. After I have been on stage it takes me days to get over it.

Nikolina Sajn