Sheila Hancock seemed to be managing old age. She had weathered widowhood, taking on acting roles that would have been demanding for a woman of half her years. She had energy, friends, a devoted family, a lovely home. She could still remember her lines. So why, in her late eighties, did she suddenly feel so furious? Shocking diagnoses, Brexit and bereavement seemed to knock her from every quarter. And that was before lockdown. Home alone, classified as 'extremely vulnerable', she found herself yelling at the TV and talking to the pigeons. But she could at least take a good long look at life: her work and family, her beliefs - and, uncomfortable as it might be to face, her future. Now, one of Britain's best-loved actors opens up about her ninth decade, showing that despite age, despite rage, there are always reasons for joy.