Elizabeth McGovern says losing her sex appeal was "liberating".
The 53-year-old 'Downton Abbey' star has revealed that she is pleased people don't look at her as a sexual being because it feels freeing.
She explained: "Losing your sex appeal is no bad thing. People look at me in a way that is not as immediately sexual as they did when I was young. I find that liberating. You can operate on a different level, without having to contend with that dynamic all the time."
However, Elizabeth - who plays Cora Crawley in the ITV period drama - admitted that she sometimes forgets that she has reached her 50s.
She said: "I don't see myself as middle-aged, and whenever anyone refers to me as such, I find it shocking, but not offensive. I feel exactly the same as when I was 18, except with more confidence and more of a secure grounding under my feet. I feel better."
Meanwhile, it was revealed recently that the cast of 'Downton Abbey' are planning to release a Christmas album.
Titled 'Christmas at Downton Abbey', the project has been backed by classical music label Rhino, according to The Sun newspaper.

One Direction took home three awards at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards.
The boy band - consisting of Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik - won awards for Best Pop, Best Live and Biggest Fans at tonight's (09.11.14) ceremony held in Glasgow, Scotland.
The boy band recorded a video message to accept their award on behalf of their loyal Directioners for Biggest Fans, but 21-year-old Zayn Malik was missing from the screen.
Harry said: "We're so sorry we can't be with you tonight. Thank you so much for this, the award for Biggest Fans.
"Because of that we obviously, obviously want to thank our incredible fans - thank you so, so much for all your support. We can never thank you all enough."
'Problem' hitmaker Ariana Grande, 5 Seconds Of Summer and Katy Perry all picked up two awards each.
Justin Bieber, host Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé were amongst the other winners.

The full list of winners at the 2014 MTV EMA is as follows:
Best Song: Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea - Problem
Best Pop: One Direction
Best Female: Ariana Grande
Best Male: Justin Bieber
Best Live: One Direction
Best New: 5 Seconds Of Summer
Best Video: Katy Perry feat. Juicy J - Dark Horse

Best Rock: Linkin Park
Best Alternative: Thirty Seconds To Mars
Best Hip-Hop: Nicki Minaj
Best Electronic: Calvin Harris
Biggest Fans: One Direction

Best Look: Katy Perry
Best Song With A Message: Beyoncé - Pretty Hurts

Best Push: 5 Seconds Of Summer

Best World Stage: Enrique Iglesias - MTV World Stage Isle of MTV Malta
Best Worldwide Act: Bibi Zhou - SE Asia, Mainland China & Hong Kong, Taiwan
Global Icon: Ozzy Osbourne

Khloe Kardashian "lives through" Kylie Jenner.
The 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' star has revealed that she wishes she could be as daring with her hair colour as her 17-year-old step-sister.
Speaking at the launch of 'Hairfinity', she said: "I love that Kylie changes her [hair] all the time ...
"But, especially with Kylie dying her hair and doing all that stuff, I live through her and I wish I could dye my hair all those colours. I don't know if I could pull it off, but I love it."
The 30-year-old television personality also revealed that she "loved" when Kylie died her hair blue just before sister Kim Kardashian was due to marry Kanye West.
Meanwhile, Khloe admitted that she suffered from hair loss, following the death of her father, Robert Kardashian, in 2003.
She told EntertainmentWise: "I've had a really hard time with my hair and growing it because I lost a lot of my hair when my father died and I actually stole the 'Hairfinity' idea from Kim, who got all these bottles sent to her.
"I thought it was worth a try and it worked, my hair has grown and it has been thicker."

Harry Styles is "lucky" Taylor Swift wrote good songs about him.
The 20-year-old singer - who briefly dated the 'Shake It Off' hitmaker two years ago - has admitted he was pleased with the songs she had written about him.
When asked during a Google Hangout about having songs penned about him, he said: "We write from personal experience, and I think everyone does, so it would be hypocritical of us to be like, 'Oh you can't write about us.'
"And they're really good. They're good songs. So I'm really lucky in that sense."
Meanwhile, Harry Styles has recently insisted that the gender of his other halves doesn't matter to him.
The One Direction heartthrob believes personality is more important in a prospective partner.
When asked what traits they look for in a girlfriend, band mate Liam Payne said: "Female. That's an important trait."
However, Harry joked: "[It's] not that important!"
Instead, the 'Steal My Girl' hitmaker explained that he believed a "sense of humour" and "being nice to him" were the best qualities.
Rumours about Harry's sexuality have been circulating ever since the band found fame in 2010 after being put together on talent show, the 'X Factor'.
However, the star denies he is bisexual.
In an interview in 2013, Harry said: "Bisexual? Me? I don't think so. I'm pretty sure I'm not,"

Matt Damon doesn't need money to have fun.
The 'Bourne Identity' star has revealed that him and his 'Good Will Hunting' co-star, Ben Affleck, still had fun when they were young, despite being desperate to get their acting break.
Speaking of their time as youngsters, the 44-year-old actor said: "Those times were fun! We had a great time!
"We were young, we didn't have the kinds of fears that you have when you get into your forties if you haven't gotten to where you want to go. We were in our twenties and we just had a blast!"
42-year-old Ben also revealed that being in a group of similar people looking for their big break made it easier for them.
He told People magazine: "We were around a community of people that we really liked.
"All of us were trying to do something similar. You didn't think of it as 'struggling' at that point, you were just trying to break in, and that was great."
Matt also revealed that the pair used to have lunch together in their high school canteen where they would discuss "business".
He joked: "We used to have business lunches together in high school when we had no business to talk about."

Alison Hammond has been kicked out of 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
The 39-year-old television presenter competed in the dance off against Caroline Flack but lost out when all the judges opted to save the former 'Xtra Factor' host.
Speaking after her exit, Alison said: "Caroline smashed it tonight. I want her to go on and get to the finals. I think she's a wonderful dancer. In fact, I think all you guys are amazing. I've had the best time ever.
"And I'd say to anybody who's thinking of doing this show, just go and do it. Don't care what colour you are or what size you are, just rock it."
Alison was full of praises for her dancing partner, Aljaž Skorjanec.
Speaking to the dance professional, she gushed: "To be honest with you, from day one when I got you, I thought I'd won. I did feel like a winner.
"So thank you for being so patient and so kind and being absolutely amazing. And I really, genuinely, from the bottom of my heart, love you as a friend."
Aljaž, too, celebrated his dancing partner's success and admitted that it definitely wouldn't be the pair's last dance.
He told 'Strictly Come Dancing' hosts Tess Daly and Zoe Ball: "I'm extremely proud ... I can't describe how much fun and laughter we had from the very first day. I'm definitely going to miss her going back to rehearsals. I'm gonna miss her a lot. And that definitely wasn't our last dance."
The remaining contestants will travel to Blackpool next week to perform at the iconic Tower Ballroom and evictee Alison even joked she would join them there.
She said: "I'm still coming to Blackpool, I don't care what anyone says. I'm rocking up, I'll be in the audience."

Paul Akister has been eliminated from the 'X Factor'.
The 25-year-old sang a heartfelt rendition of 'Clown' by Emeli Sande in tonight's (09.11.14) sing-off but he was booted out after receiving the least public votes.
Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh chose to save crooner Jay James whilst Mel B and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini saved the former pub singer.
Paul was visibly upset after hearing his fate and was unable to talk.
His mentor, Mel, only spoke to criticise the public's decision.
She said: "He is incredible. That's wrong."
Paul impressed the judges this year when he sang 'Jealous Guy' by John Lennon at auditions. He also appeared on the show last year, where he reached Louis' judge's houses stage.
Meanwhile, Paul was previously forced to defend himself against comments made by Simon that he was "complaining" about his song choice.
Speaking ahead of yesterday's (08.11.14) live show, he said: "It looks like I'm miserable, but I'm not. I'm just worrying about what they're going to say.
"Obviously I suffered a knockback last year and didn't get to live shows, so this year I'm constantly thinking. And when I'm thinking my face just goes still.
"I should be smiling, but I'm just concentrating. But now I'm just going to go out there and have a good time."

Ariana Grande reportedly earned $9000 per episode during the first season of 'Victorious'.
The 21-year-old singer - who found fame starring as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon television show - is believed to have been paid the sum for every episode she starred in as well as extra money for writing songs that were used in the show.
Her first contract, as obtained by TMZ, revealed that for the show's first season, Ariana would be paid $9000 per episode.
It also showed that the 'Break Free' hitmaker would be paid $4000 for writing the theme song, $3000 for songs she wrote which featured in multiple episodes and $1500 for every 20 second skit that she wrote.
The contract also allegedly promised that no one else on set would get a better dressing room than her.
Meanwhile, Ariana recently spoke out about the difficulties in shaking off her Cat Valentine alter ego so she could follow a music career.
Speaking about using the music video for 'The Way' to rid herself of her character, she said: "I was like, 'Guys, there has to be a really distinct difference between me and my character.
"I dyed my hair back to brown. I made out with a rapper [Mac Miller] in the video. I made the point I wanted to make. And I was excited to do so after so many years of pretending to be somebody else in front of a lot of people."

Blake Lively would let Martha Stewart "creep up" on her husband.
The former 'Gossip Girl' star - who has been married to Ryan Reynolds since 2012 - has revealed that she would only be "okay" with someone hanging out with her partner if it was the 73-year-old businesswoman.
She said: "When we met Martha, she was like, 'I'll ride motorcycles with you, Ryan.'
"That's the only woman that can creep up on my man and I would be okay with it."
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old actress - who is pregnant with her first child - revealed she would be organising a lot of baby showers in the next few months because many of her friends had fell pregnant too.
She said: "There is something in the water because all of my friends are pregnant suddenly.
"I'm always the one in charge of planning the showers and bachelorette parties and they are not letting me off the hook because I'm pregnant."
Blake also admitted that she needs to learn to knit properly before the baby is born so she can make the child little "booties".
Speaking at Martha's Third Annual American Made Summit event, she said: "I have to learn to knit. I started but I only know how to knit a straight track, which doesn't really get you too far.
"That's where the hot glue comes in to shape it into booties, but nobody wants to wear hot-glue booties."

Robert Pattinson is "falling in love" with FKA twigs.
The 'Twilight' star - who has been dating the singer since the summer - is reportedly so "serious" about his new girlfriend that he isn't concerned that his movie, 'Idol's Eye', being delayed.
A source revealed: "[Rob] wasn't even that disappointed that his film got pushed because it means he can spend more time following her around on tour, he's her number one fan.
"They're very serious, Rob's only seeing her, he's not dating anyone else or even looking at other girls. He's really happy, they're falling in love, he's totally wrapped up in her."
A witness also revealed that the couple seemed to be all loved up at one of the 26-year-old's recent shows.
The 'Two Weeks' hitmaker played a sold-out show at Terminal 5 in Brooklyn, New York last night (08.11.14) whilst Robert watched from the side of the stage.
A witness at the event told HollywoodLife.com: "He was in a great mood.
"Laughing, drinking, stuck with his friends all night. [He] couldn't take his eyes off her."
Meanwhile, sources recently revealed that the 28-year-old actor is reportedly keen to move back to London to be with his girlfriend.
An insider said: "She is behind Rob's decision to move back. He's serious about her.
"They are really happy and he seems keen to make a fresh start, away from the mutual circles he shared with his ex-girlfriend Kristen [Stewart] in LA.
"They've both got busy schedules but they're planning to move to London together in the foreseeable future."

Lil Kim wants her baby to have "everything".
The 40-year-old rapper - who gave birth to her first child, Royal Reign, in June this year - has revealed that she wants the best for her five-month-old daughter.
She told HipHollywood: "After I had my baby, I was like, 'I have to get right to it ...
"I have to make sure that that baby has everything and doesn't want for nothing.'"
Royal's father, rapper Mr. Papers, shared a cute picture of his baby girl not long after she was born, captioning it: "Everybody say hi to my beautiful a** daughter Miss Royal ... #LilPapers my lil Scooby snack. [sic]"
The 'Thug' hitmaker also recently dubbed pregnancy as "expensive" but "beautiful".
She said: "[Pregnancy] is the most expensive gift God has ever given me and the most beautiful gift God has ever given me."
Meanwhile, the 40-year-old rapper has spoken out about reuniting with her fellow 'Not Tonight' singers, Missy Elliot and Da Brat, as they prepare to hit the stage together for the first time since 1998.
The three girls will perform the hit song at the Soul Train Awards, which will take place in Las Vegas on November 30th.
Lil Kim said: "I'm just really excited to see my friends.
"Missy Elliot is my sister. She's a longterm friend and just someone that I love dearly."

Nick Jonas thinks sex is "healthy".
The former Jonas Brothers singer - who is currently dating beauty queen Olivia Culpo - believes being intimate with a partner is important.
He told Attitude magazine: "Sex is such an important part of a healthy life, in the sense that it's such an intrinsic part of who you are.
"When your sex life is not healthy, you resort to other things as an outlet. And in terms of the show, that's tough to watch."
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old singer and actor previously revealed that he believes marriage is "ideal" and would love to wed his girlfriend one day.
Speaking about his beau, he recently said: "I met her at a Fashion Week party a couple years back. It's been an amazing year and a half now. She's the best."
Asked if he would consider marriage, he added: "At some point. It would be ideal [to settle down], but we're still quite young and we're going on a journey."
The 'Jealous' hitmaker has also been showing off his good physique recently, admitting that whilst he "feels good" about being in great shape, he doesn't spend all his time admiring himself in the mirror.
He said: "In a way, I feel like it was a combination of things, just getting older, growing up and then shooting this TV show 'Kingdom'.
"It feels good to feel healthy, but I'm not sitting there looking in the mirror."