She can convey her utter disgust with a single haughty look. And Dame Eileen Atkins is not so bad at the withering verbal putdown either.

The latest to earn the disapproval of the famously forthright Cranford star are certain female television presenters.

'My skin crawls when I see laddish women presenting television shows who almost slap their thighs as if they're in panto,' said Dame Eileen, 74. 'I think, "Stop. This isn't what we meant by feminism". It's gone completely wrong.'

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Grande dames: Dame Eileen Atkins and Dame Judi Dench in the BBC series Cranford. Dame Eileen has let rip in a a rant against laddish television presenters, the notion of acting dynasties and the smoking ban

While Dame Eileen, who collected a Bafta for her role as prudish Deborah Jenkyns in the BBC's Cranford, didn't name names, it seems likely that the antics of presenters such as Denise van Outen and singers-turned-chat-how-hosts Charlotte Church and Lily Allen would hardly earn her approval.

But the actress also had a warning for women in general.

'Women think they can have a fantastic career and four children, and knock themselves out trying to do it all,' she said.

'In my late teens and 20s I was in love all the time. Now girls are expected to have sex before they're 12, which is terrible. It really upsets me when silly girls get as drunk and aggressive as boys.'

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Dame Judi Dench, left, and Dame Eileen Atkins: Atkins says'Acting is not in the blood - otherwise what are Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and I doing here'

In a wide-ranging interview with Radio Times, Dame Eileen also had a go at political correctness.

'People have been absolutely vile to smokers,' she said. 'If they say we can't smoke on stage it will be ridiculous – it's alright to see people murder each other.

'All this political correctness makes you want to behave badly – which I do – but I wonder if it's me just being another angry old fart. 

'I'm offered parts that are severe, I don't know why. Perhaps it's because I have a long face and look authoritarian, which I'm not. 

'I've never been sure of myself. I'm known for speaking out, but it's through nerves rather than bravery.'

Dame Eileen, who has been married to second husband Bill Shepherd since 1978, also recalled how she revealed a Hollywood star half her age had propositioned her shortly after her 70 birthday.

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Eileen Atkins pictured after winning the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for best actress in 1965

'I didn't name him but the press discovered it was Colin Farrell. I didn't accept, but the offer did me the world of good.

'Bill said he wouldn't have blamed me if I had. As it happens, I haven't been unfaithful, but only because we married when I was 43. I don't know how people stay faithful if they marry young. Women are more successful at infidelity than men – they're better liars.'

Dame Eileen, who was brought up on a North London council estate, is currently appearing in the play The Female of the Species, which satirises feminism.

And, inevitably, she has strong views about acting and actresses.

She said: 'Acting is not in the blood – otherwise what are Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and I doing here? I'm the least well known, for a very good reason.

'Judi's an incredible actress who wouldn't be so popular if she hadn't been in As Time Goes By. And Maggie has always done movies and won Oscars. I plough away at the classics.'

Dame Eileen also took a swipe at actresses who win parts simply because of their looks.

When asked if she was thinking of Joan Collins, she replied: 'She's damned good fun. I loved it when she said, "As you age you get the face you deserve". What confidence.'

She added: 'I don't think she'd put herself in the actress league. She has a go, but doesn't take herself that seriously.'