Joanna Lumley told 'you are a beautiful woman for your age'

Joanna Lumley was told she was a "beautiful woman" for her "age" whilst filming her travel series 'Secret Cities' in Rome.

The 75-year-old actress was, at first, delighted to be given a sweet compliment on her looks by an "old woman" in the Italian city but her joy quickly turned to shock as the back-handed nature of the words hit home.

She said: "In Rome, this old woman came up to me and she said, ‘I so like your shows. I like your programmes.’ I said, ‘Thank you’ and she said, ‘You are a beautiful woman’. I said, ‘Thanks so much.' But just as I was leaving she said, ‘I wish that when I am old, I look your age.'"

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic presenting numerous challenges when making the ITV programme, 'Absolutely Fabulous' star Lumley was delighted with the small journeys she was able to make even with all the travel rules.

She said: "It became impossible to do huge journeys throughout lockdown so we did some small journeys and we did some travelling around, which was gorgeous. I’ve been to Berlin, to Paris and to Rome.”

‘Secret Cities’ is expected to air early next year.

A source on the show previously said: “Joanna is showing no sign of stopping following the pandemic and she is more determined than ever to get out there globe-trotting for her fans.

“ITV bosses know her programmes are a hit with viewers and wanted to hand her a show for the post- pandemic world as people start travelling again.

“Joanna will be inspiring people who want to get back out there and experience a change of scene as the world slowly opens up again.”

Lumley’s previous travel docuseries have proven to be a hit, her most notable travel documentaries include; 'Joanna Lumley’s Nile', 'Joanna Lumley’s Greek Odyssey', 'Joanna Lumley’s Japan', 'Joanna Lumley’s India' and 'Joanna Lumley’s Hidden Caribbean: Havana to Haiti' .