Cerrie's sense of herself

Children’s TV presenter Cerrie Burnell tells our style guide Lara Masters about her ambitions beyond where she is now and how her own sense of self will help her get there

Cerrie Burnell is well-known as the CBeebies presenter who found herself at the centre of a furore for unashamedly showing her handless arm rather than wearing a clumsy and impractical prosthesis or covering up the limb to protect the delicate sensibilities of a few parents. Cerrie approaches her sense of style in the same way; comfort is key and she feels little need for artifice.

“My style is relaxed,” Cerrie explains. “I can be glamorous when I go out but it’s laid-back glamour; I’ll add a gold belt to a charity shop find or wear knee-high boots and tight jeans with a little black dress over the top. My look is very seasonal; in summer I’m in sandals, brightly coloured skirts and sarongs and in winter I’ll wear lots of black, higher heels and big woolly scarves, berets and boots; my Uggs are never far from me.

“I’ve never really worn make-up; I find it tiresome and I don’t buy into this celebrity culture and women having to look and dress a certain way. I’m always pleasantly surprised to see someone in the public eye going around without make-up because a normal woman doesn’t have the time to put that much energy into her appearance. Of course I want to look attractive but I don’t think that means having half a pancake on your face or being trussed up like a turkey in a corset. I think we worry far too much about body image in this country.”

As I think “Ugg” boots are the ugg-liest footwear ever invented, I have a sizeable make-up collection and a closet full of corsets which I think make a woman look sexy not “fowl” (and great for back support), it’s safe to say Cerrie and I are stylistically polarised. However, I agree our society’s preoccupation with physical appearance is disproportionate as was demonstrated when Cerrie received comments from parents that her appearance on TV “frightened” their children.

“At the time of the complaints my daughter was 4 months, so I didn’t have much time to worry about it but I never felt it was about me personally but about disability. There have been a few disabled presenters and many disabled characters on TV but there has never been this outcry before and I felt lucky to be able to put my viewpoint across. Parents came out in support of me and the situation saying they didn’t want their child to grow up thinking that you should hide a disability or difference.

“I haven’t worn a prosthetic arm since I was nine. I always push my sleeve up so I can use my arm, it would be totally impractical to cover it up. My disability is part of who I am, I don’t know how it affects my life because I don’t know what it’s like not to have it. I do know my back’s screwed from pushing a pram and dragging it upstairs with one hand. And people recognise me even though I look completely different off-camera because they see my arm. A lot of the time it’s delightful – meeting and talking to children – but there are times, like when I’m with my daughter in the park, when I don’t want to be entertaining other people’s kids.”

Of course disability also impacts career choices. Cerrie wants to pursue an acting career and admires Kate Winslet’s work and the quirky roles she chooses. I suggest that the entertainment industry is image-obsessed and Cerrie may have to focus more on her looks to succeed but she disagrees.

“I don’t think you have to put more of an effort into appearance in this industry. If you’re going for a casting you have to research the character and dress in a way that’s appropriate for that role.”

As Cerrie enjoys a successful career in children’s TV, her style of under-stated glamour works well. However, I believe when working in the visual mediums generally, especially film, it helps to enhance your appearance in any way you can - particularly when you have a disability and are fighting deeply embedded prejudice.

My style suggestion for Cerrie would simply be to introduce make-up. Even a touch of eyeliner and mascara would make a Titanic impact when schmoozing directors and soon she may have more in common with Ms Winslet’s career than just Little Children. Being the first one-handed actress on the big screen, Cerrie really would be carving a Revolutionary Road. I’m stopping now.