Kim Cattrall has revealed she relished putting on weight for her new film, as she's been watching what she eats for so long.

The 54-year-old Sex And The City star had to gain 20lbs to play retired porn star in Meet Monica Velour and revealed on The Graham Norton Show she loved pigging out after having watched what she ate for more than 35 years.

Kim said: "It was a stretch for me - literally a stretch as I had to gain 20lbs to play this character... it was fantastic!"

She added: "I have been on a diet since 1974 so this was time for me to eat. God I love to eat, chips and crisps and puddings. Oh, it was amazing."

British born Kim is famous for playing stylish, image conscious Samantha in Sex and The City, and revealed she enjoyed not looking her best for the film.

She said: "I had no make up on and my hair was just as I got out of bed. I am known so much for looking just one way - that sort of Barbie doll perfection look that Sex And The City promotes - so it was fantastic for me to get to play a real person."

Kim admitted the role of Samantha was hard to shake off and she was pleased to try something different.

She said: "It's hard. People think you are that character and it follows you."

And of the character's raunchy sex scenes she said: "I tell people 'You have seen Samantha nude, not me nude.'"

::The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One, Friday 24 June at 10.35pm