"Mama Mia!" actress Julie Walters credits sobriety and acupuncture for helping her get through the menopause – which she suffered through for ten years!

The 63-year-old spoke candidly at the weekend about how happy and liberated she feels since it came to an end two years ago because she would get up to 15 hot flushes in one night.

“It’s liberating to be out of the rat race that life is – it’s a huge relief – both going through it and coming out the other side,” the "Harry Potter" actress said.

“It’s different when you’re going through it because you have things you have to deal with, but that’s life and every so often you have to address things and deal with them the best you can.

“I’ve got so much more energy now than I ever had in my early 50s before the menopause.”

Julie told The Daily Mail about how difficult it was to film scenes for the Harry Potter movies in her role as Molly Weasley.

“Trying to film when you’re constantly flushing is very difficult – I remember being on Harry Potter and they had to turn the air conditioning onto me. I used to get so hot with all the padding and the wig and everything."

Julie Walters has been nominated for two Oscars, first for Educating Rita in which she starred with Michael Caine in 1983, then for Billy Elliot.

"I’m more comfortable now that I’m in my sixties. It’s been a gradual process that’s kicked in over time as I went through my 50s. It’s all about looking after yourself and being honest,” she said.