Anna Friel needs a strong man to "handle her".
Anna Friel
The 39-year-old actress - who began dating Rhys Ifans shortly after she split from her former partner of 10 years David Thewlis in 2011 - classes herself as a "strong woman" and has admitted she has to have a "stronger" suitor to put up with her and her bold personality.
Speaking to Grazia magazine about the traits she looks for in her partners, the brunette beauty said: "Strong and funny. I'm a strong woman so I need someone stronger to handle me.
"People say [my ex-partners] David Thewlis and Rhys Ifans look the same, but they couldn't be more different."
Despite counting herself as an empowered female, Anna has revealed her personality is the opposite to what people expect.
She explained: "I'm much shyer than you'd ever imagine, especially when I'm being photographed."
Meanwhile the 'Marcella' star has revealed her biggest regret is not entering into a house share with her godparents.
Speaking about the mistake that haunts her, the mother-of-one - who has 10-year-old daughter Gracie Ellen Mary Thewlis with her ex-beau David - said: "Not buying a house in Windsor with my godparents when I was about 24. I couldn't quite afford it but it would have been a really good jump for me. I was a stupid girl not to have done it, it's the dream house."
However, Anna has learnt from her brother Michael not to worry about the past or the future, but to live in the moment.
She explained: "There's no point in worrying. My brother, a doctor, says the biggest complaint is stress and worry. It's part of our culture: We're trained how to worry as opposed to how not to.
"My rule is try to live now and take each day as it comes."
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