From Miss Brahms to Pauline Fowler, Wendy Richard is a winner

EastEnders actress Wendy Richard believes sheer determination and the will to survive have been the two weapons that helped her battle off cancer twice.

Sipping a glass of white, chilled wine Ms Richard jokingly says she is not ready to die yet: "I'm going to inflict myself on people for a little while longer".

Ms Richard, who has played Pauline Fowler in the BBC One's flagship soap since it launched in 1985, is in Malta with her partner John Burns for four-and-a-half days "of pure bliss" at the Hotel Fortina Spa Resort.

Ms Richard, not Richards as her autobiography clearly points out after years of having her name misspelt, has been so bowled over by the facilities at the hotel that she admits she has not ventured out of the hotel to see the sights in Malta.

With a busy filming schedule for EastEnders awaiting her when she gets back to the UK, she is making sure she relishes every minute of her free time pampering herself with rejuvenating treatments.

"I did come once for a long weekend back in the 1960s but it had been so stormy that we couldn't go round much. All I remember is Mdina," she smiles.

Ms Richard, who many will remember as the glamorous sales assistant Miss Brahms in the sitcom Are You Being Served?, has spent her entire life acting but the major challenge in her life has been battling cancer.

She has also worked extensively for cancer charities and had been given the all-clear by doctors for breast cancer 10 years ago. Then three years ago she discovered a lump on her neck while on holiday. She underwent an operation to remove the lump and has been undergoing treatment since.

"My advice to all women out there is that if they discover a lump, have it checked immediately. More often than not it will be benign but don't take any chances. I also advise everyone to use an aluminium-free deodorant as an added precaution," she said.

Moving on to speak about the time she starred in Are You Being Served?, which ran from 1973 to 1985, Ms Richard describes this period as the best in her life.

"We all had such a great time together and the nicest thing was that we were getting paid to enjoy ourselves. I still keep in touch with the cast," she said.

Discussing her role in EastEnders, Ms Richard said she cannot believe that 20 years have gone by already.

Her trip to Malta coincided with a reunion with the man who had first cast her, Jonathan McLeish, who is now retired and living in Mqabba.

"When we first started there were no lines or bags under my eyes. I have seen so many actors come and go. I have kept in touch with some and see the young ones grow and develop their talent."

Ms Richard's stint in EastEnders has seen her character bury her husband, mother and twin brother. She has also seen her daughter emigrate and coped with her son dying of AIDS.

"I guess the only dramatic change in my character has been my hairstyle and pet dog. Apart from that she's still the same loyal woman, fighting for her family."

Asked to mention the most memorable point in her career, Ms Richard does not stop to think: "It has to be the day when I received an MBE from her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace - it was the proudest day of my life".

She was awarded the MBE for her services to British television drama in 2000, which coincided with her publishing her autobiography Wendy Richard... no 'S', a celebration of her 40 years as a working actress.