Woman's Hour - 15/04/2010

Presented by Jenni Murray. Kim Cattrall became a household name in her forties as a result of playing the infamous Samantha Jones in the American TV series 'Sex and the City'. Her latest character is Amelia Bly, the PA and mistress to a former British Prime Minister in the film 'The Ghost'. She talks to Jenni Murray about why we all need a "professional wife" and what it was like working with director Roman Polanski. She also discusses acting in the West End as Amanda in Noel Coward's Private Lives and the forthcoming Sex and the City film. The political parties have been unveiling their manifestos which include pledges on the economy, childcare, health and education. Rachel Sylvester, political commentator and journalist for The Times and Ceri Goddard, Chief Executive of The Fawcett Society examine what the parties will be offering women. Constance Spry founded the Cordon Bleu cookery school and introduced an unfussy approach to flower arranging in the 1930s using twigs and vegetable leaves displayed in unconvential containers. A new biography of Spry emphasises her early life as a social reformer in Ireland and looks at the key relationships in her life and her open marriage. Sue Shephard - author of "The Surprising Life of Constance Spry" and florist Nikki Tibbles join Jenni in the studio.