Joanna Lumley had aspired to be a "European sex goddess".

Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders

Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders

The 70-year-old 'Absolutely Fabulous' actress - who has reprised her role as Patsy Stone in the comedy film adaptation - has admitted she dreamed of being like the iconic French actress and fashion model Brigitte Bardot when she was younger.

Speaking about her muse, she said: "European sex goddess - like Brigitte Bardot or Claudia Cardinale."

And the television personality has revealed prior to her acting days she embarked on a modelling career, which she compares with being part of a circus act.

The blonde beauty explained: "Part of the attraction of modelling and acting is that you become part of the circus, 'Out in the street in your bare, bare feet, following the raggle taggle gypsies.'"

"That idea of the circus rumbling by, and you thinking, 'I'll jump out of the window and join them.'"

Meanwhile, the mother of one - who gave birth to her son Jamie Lumley, 48, at the age of 21 who she had with her former partner Michael Claydon - has admitted bringing her child up as a single mother and out of wedlock put her into a "desperate stage" where she was constantly worrying about how she would finance the two of them.

She told Hello! magazine: "[It was] some pretty desperate stages, particularly financially. When you're tired and can't see where the next bit of money is coming from, you can lie awake at night and think, 'What the hell am I going to do?'"

Meanwhile, Joanna has revealed she stole most took most of the film's props from the set of 'Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie' home with her.

Speaking previously, her co-star Jennifer Saunders (Edina Monsoon), said: "You took most of the set."

And Joanna admitted: "I can't think of anything that I didn't take."

Imitating her friend, Jennifer, 57, quipped: "Are you going to use those flowers, I'll just put them in my car. Are you going to want that lovely fruit? And the bowl? And that chair? Right, I'll just put them in my car."