The Cranford star, who was famously propositioned by Hollywood hunk Colin Farrell just before her 70th birthday, also hit out at "political correctness" in the interview.

She told the Radio Times: "My skin crawls when I see laddish women presenting television shows who almost slap their thighs as if they're in panto.

"I think 'Stop. This isn't what we meant by feminism.' It's gone completely wrong. Women think they can have a fantastic career and four children, and knock themselves out trying to do it all."

Dame Eileen, brought up on a north London council estate, 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."

The star, 74, who married her first husband, actor Julian Glover, at the age of 22, said: "I don't like families. Thank God Bill (Shepherd, her second husband) hasn't got one, either.

"I'm just not up for it and was never maternal. Some friends get enormous pleasure from their family. You should live to the hilt, and then die.

"There's no such thing as a 'legend'. Nearly everyone has forgotten Laurence Olivier.

"What's that dreadful word – 'dynasty', as in the Redgraves and Foxes? 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 said of future roles: "I'd like to be a brothel-keeper next, or some old cockney, except they don't exist any more. I like playing nasty people."