She has finally shaken off her reputation as staid Saffy in Absolutely Fabulous but it appears that life has sadly imitated art for Julia Sawalha.

The 39 year-old, who plays a confirmed spinster in BBC series Lark Rise to Candleford, has given up on having a family of her own after a series of "disastrous relationships".

She fears that her age will rule out having children even if she did find someone to settle down with.

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Disastrous relationships: Sawalha and former lover Rich Annetts - who is described as a 'water gypsy' - the couple split last year

Unlucky in love: She split from her Jonathon Creek co-star Alan Davies in 2004 after two years amid reports that he refused to commit

The actress said: "I think I've finally come to terms with the fact that it's not going to happen.

"I'm single and I think that by the time I met someone - if I were ever to meet the right person, which I don't think I will, because I am too fussy - my biological clock means that it will be too late.

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Life imitating art? Julie as spinster Dorcas Lane in Lark Rise

"There are times when I think, 'Oh what a shame', but I don't think that's my path in this life.

"I don't know what my path is, but I'm happy being an auntie."

Breakout role: Sawalha as Saffy in Absolutely Fabulous

There was speculation that the demands of her career was at odds with the quiet rural life they led together after moving to rural Somerset.

She admitted: "I've got a string of disastrous relationships behind me.

"I don't think I'm an easy person to live with.

"When I split up with my boyfriend last year it was quite daunting to me, but I thought I needed to be on my own now, because I never really gave myself any time on my own.

"I was always with somebody, because you think that's the norm, what you have to do.

"And I think you have to be emotionally a very strong person to be on your own.

"I would say in the past six months I've suddenly got really strong and happy with my own company."

Miss Sawahla split from previous boyfriend fellow actor Alan Davies, her co-star in Jonathan Creek, in 2004 after two years amid reports that he refused to commit.

He was branded a "miserable git" by her sister Nadia Sawahla after complaining about photographs published of him attending her wedding to TV producer Mark Adderley in OK! magazine.

The two sisters are now close but did not end the feud until after Miss Sawahla's relationship with Mr Davies finished.

Miss Sawahla said of the stand-off: "We all admit there are a lot of egos flying around and things just got blown out of proportion...Somewhere down the line I used it as an excuse for all the upset that I'd felt throughout my life.

"Because all it is is a younger sister wanting to be with her big sister."