You were a natural performer from a very young age, what do you love most about being on stage?
I think the thing that I enjoy the most about stage performance is the buzz I get from it being live and the fact that anything can go wrong! I love how you can have an instant reaction from the audience rather than being behind a camera and not feeling any of that. It’s the adrenaline that I enjoy!

How do you keep your energy levels up for shows and performances?
It’s a lot to do with making sure you look after yourself. These days, I like to snack on things like almonds, rather than sugary snacks. Also, most of the shows I perform in I sing, and that’s a big factor because there are a lot of things you can’t have because it affects your singing voice. I think once you do change your eating habits and reap the benefits, then it makes you not want to revert back to what you’ve left behind.

You work schedule must be jammed packed, how do you fit in exercise around work and being a mother?
I treat exercise as part of my job really, and I think you have to with any form of exercise. I love to do a big physical challenge every year for charity because it’s the only way I can keep focused and make sure that I do some sort of exercise! This year I’m going to be cycling from Vietnam to Cambodia, which means that because I’ve committed to it and people are sponsoring me, I know that I have to go out and do the training for it!

Do you like to stick to any specific eating habits?
I always make sure I eat lots of fruit and vegetables and I grow my own veg down in the country. I do tend to relax on the weekend though! I also don’t really have a sweet tooth so I don’t like having desserts or chocolate really, I’m much more of a savoury girl!

What does a healthy body mean to you?
A healthy body to me is when you are happy with your body and you feel like that when you’re looking after yourself. It gives you confidence when you do look after your body and that only comes with eating healthily and exercising.

What’s your favourite thing to snack on when your on the move?
When I’m on the move I snack on almonds and I have done for the past few years because I’m very aware of the benefits. It’s also really easy! I have a little tin that I keep them in and a I like to snack twice a day, mid morning and sometimes late afternoon. There always in my hand bag!

What are your top beauty essentials that you never leave home without?
Well, being an Essex girl, it’s always makeup! Because I’ve got fair eyelashes, MAC’s black mascara works wonders, it just makes my eyes look really awake. I like to have a bronzer too as I like to have a bit of a glow!

What’s the most important thing to have in your workout wardrobe?
It depends on what I’m actually doing but I think footwear is really important, especially for running. There are so many styles out there and I think you can cause yourself injuries if you don’t have the right foot wear.

Do you have a favourite mantra or quote you like to stick by?
One of the things somebody said to me at school which I like to apply to everything I do, be it work or exercise, is “What you put in, you get out”. You know, if you put the time and the effort in, you’ll reap the rewards… I like to stick to that.

Can you describe your perfect holiday destination?|
Well it depends… because I’m a Gemini, I like two different things! If I’m going to have a beachy relaxing holiday, it’s got to be the Maldives. But I’m equally as happy if I’m trekking through the jungle with a rucksack and my trekking boots. I’m a bit of a tomboy at heart!

You’ve got a group of your best girlfriends coming over for dinner, what’s on the menu?
I would cook something really easy like a lovely, healthy, veggie pasta dish using all the veg from my garden.

Denise Van Outen has teamed up with California Almonds to launch the Snack Happy + Challenge, which encourages women to snack on a handful of almonds, combined with different tasty ingredients for 21 days to see how it makes them feel. To get inspired visit www.Almonds.co.uk and tweet your progress using #snackhappy