Miranda Hart takes up canoeing

Miranda Hart has taken up canoeing.

The 46-year-old comic enjoys being active but hates going to the gym so would rather be "in nature" while trying to keep fit and is having a great time getting stuck into the water sport.

She said: "Of course, if you love the gym, then keep on. But if you don\'t, then generally keeping active by brisk walking, or breaking into a gallop like Miranda (it genuinely does feel joyous) is all a body needs - unless you\'re an endurance athlete. As she says, \'Running is only fun when done professionally or as a child.\'

"I have always loved sport and exercise but I joined a gym for about 10 days before realising the whole place smelt of crotch and was full of personal trainers shouting at women to do more squats.

"I needed to be in nature. My latest thing is canoeing - for real! It\'s so much fun."

The \'Miranda\' star\'s "most freeing" moment came when she began listening to herself and not doing what she thought other people wanted her to do.

She told You magazine: "It\'s more important to be yourself than be popular...

"When I realised that I was also an introvert and needed alone time to recharge - that I preferred small informal gatherings to posh dos - it was the most freeing moment in my life.

"I finally allowed myself to be the person who doesn\'t like to dress up and instead needs nights by the fire to read (which makes me sound Edwardian but, don\'t worry, there\'s often pizza and a fluffy dressing gown, too)."

But finding fame didn\'t help Miranda when it came to accepting herself.

She said: "I took a long time to accept myself and, actually, when I had, becoming famous didn\'t help at all - suddenly you are being judged and written about in a way that can be quite shocking and derailing. (Fame isn\'t something that leads to affirmation or happiness, trust me.)

"I just don\'t listen to that any more - and feel fully happy in my skin."