Motherland star Tanya Moodie says she's 'nothing like Meg' as she discusses self-care, Buddhism and terrifying new role: 'In reality, women can't have it all'

She played high-flying, alpha-mum Meg in Motherland – a character who seemed to have it all – including a remarkable capacity for partying. 

Yet in reality Tanya Moodie couldn't be further from the character, with the actress telling the Daily Mail that people are often surprised by her calm nature. 

'It's funny, I love Meg but I don't think Meg would hang out with me,' Tanya mused. 'I think I would be really boring to Meg. You know, she can really cane it, and I can't.

'"Having it all" is a concept that I don't think is realistic, it's a platitude that we use. We can't have all of everything. Something's got to give.

'We can't spin every plate and keep them spinning - one has to prioritise. I have learnt that my cup has to be full and overflowing before I can support others.

'When I speak to my close girlfriends, I don't think one has managed to have it all.'

Tanya added that her faith - having been a practising Buddhist for three decades - helps with her mindset. 

She explained: 'In my organisation the whole practice is about supporting ourselves and others, so I have a lot of active practice doing that.

'Another thing I think I've been asking myself is, is "100 percent" necessary to put into anything? Like, 80's fine. 50 is necessary and sometimes 20 is the best you can do.

'Then if you can do 20 one day, you store your strength, and then tomorrow you can do 80.'

Tanya, 54, has been focusing on self-care while her daughter Willow, whom she shares with her ex-husband, is at university. 

'I'm an official empty nester!' Tanya exclaimed. 'And something has opened up in my heart, in my sort of energetic field, that I have the agency to go out and do whatever I like.

'Willow's an adult and she's out in the world. Up until now I was a much more conservative about things that I agreed to be seen for, or go up for, because I always had to consider how long would that take me away from Willow.

'And I'm one of those people that has been in successive long-term relationships as well, and it's the first time in my life where I have looked at that need that I felt inside me to be in successive long-term relationships, unpicked that.

'I've really started to feed my own creativity, my own desires, my own spirituality and really fill my cup, and it feels fantastic. 

'I've found that my relationships in general have become much more meaningful and authentic.'

Tanya has also been keeping an eye on her physical health, juggling working with navigating the menopause.  

She explained: 'As I have gotten older theatre is more taxing. It's a very athletic thing to have to do, eight shows a week, going in, warming up, being physical, being in the moment, all that stuff.

'When I hit menopause I really wanted to talk to other women who are in menopause going, "are you finding this as hard as I am? Ugh, I'm exhausted". It was really tough.

'I just auditioned for a play. I have no idea if it's going to happen, but being a woman of my age, I'm thinking I'll need a good few months of getting myself match fit.

'I weight train consistently three times a week and I walk a lot, I do vocal exercises that I learned through my training. I try to eat whole foods, I quit drinking a few years ago, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs. 

'My health is - as we say in Buddhism - we say there are three treasures. The treasures are the storehouse, treasures of the body, treasures of the heart, basically. 

'And if we strive to accumulate treasures of the heart, then the other two will come as a matter of course.'

While Tanya is focusing on other projects for now, she revealed she'd be more than open to reviving her Motherland role, saying she'd welcome a part in Amandaland and would love her own Megland spin-off. 

She has also just filmed the upcoming Apple TV series, Safe Houses, with Jennifer Connelly and Ana de Armas, which is an international espionage thriller. 

For now, Motherland fans can see Tanya in Clayface, a body horror about a promising actor (Tom Rhys Harries) who goes to extraordinary lengths to modify himself after his face is horribly disfigured by a brutal gangster.

Based on a DC comic character, the film is set in the same universe as Batman. 

Nothing can be said about Tanya's character, other than she is a resident in Gotham city, in order to avoid spoilers. 

Clayface has been described as DC's 'most unsettling movie' yet, but Tanya insisted she didn't let the weight of filming such a dark subject matter weigh on her. 

She explained: I don't struggle with coming out of character because I've never carried a film in which I have to completely immerse myself and transform into something… that might be a different thing. 

'There's always residue from characters. I think, when I was in a relationship my ex would have said there is residue, energetically.

'I think my daughter, not so much, because when you're a parent, you do have to do that hard switch into… "Have you got your things for school? "Have you got football tonight?" You know?

'As well, as I became more mature as a human being, let alone an actor, I learned that it's not healthy to be constantly drawing on my personal triggers and any sort of emotional trauma or something. It's not healthy to constantly be picking at the scabs!'

Actress Becky Bush also stars in Clayface and while she also couldn't say too much about her role, she shared: 'What I can say is that it was an absolute treat of a role to play and a wonderful bit of self-manifestation! 

'My role  was very glam for a movie which is set in the dark Gotham city, but Gotham is full of different sides and many twists and turns, so you should make sure you watch the movie as it will keep you at the edge of your seat.

'It was such an honour to work with James Watkins! James created such a lovely environment to work in and definitely helped ease any nerves I had - what an honour to be directed by him right after graduating!' 

As for how she decompresses following a tough scene, Becky said: 'Luckily my scene was all rather joyous on this one! 

'Though my ideal way to decompress after working on tough material is taking a couple of moments by myself and listing five things I’m grateful for, then coming home to my two fluffy cats Leonard and Daphne and popping on an episode of either the U.S Office or Parks And Recreation.'

Clayface is in cinemas now