Most actors, thankfully, love to talk about themselves, usually about their work but sometimes they’ll be happy to speak about aspects of their personal life.

Some simply like to unburden their souls.

Then there are the rareties such as Meg Wynn Owen, one-time leading light in classic ITV drama Upstairs Downstairs – where she played Hazel Bellamy – who prefer to let their work speak for them. “I don’t do anything about my real life,” she replies when asked whether she has a family. No matter. She comes across as an utterly nice and charming woman, very polite and with a great sense of humility.

And if Meg Wynn Owen has ever worked on a difficult series or with an actor or director she didn’t exactly hit it off with, she’s not about to tell. However, the 71-year-old, is certainly prepared to sing the praises of her current acting role, in Oran Mor lunchtime production In The Pipeline.

Gary Owen’s play tells of the consequences of a massive liquid gas line being torn through the countryside of west Wales. Andrew, Dai and Joan (Meg) are caught in its path. And they won’t lay down to progress.

It’s about building barricades, about defiance, and the strength of the human condition. “It’s an entirely personal play but also political,” Meg says. “For all of us in this play it’s the most wonderful experience.

“And I have to say I really love this chance to appear in Oran Mor. I think the theatre here is wonderful, and it’s opened up a whole new acting world for me.

“It’s also given me the chance to come to Glasgow for the first time. It’s a very beautiful city.”

Meg Wynn Owen has incredible acting experience to bring to her role, although it was Upstairs Downstairs which established her career. “I had no idea when I took the part of Hazel Bellamy the impact that it would have on me,” she admits.

“I’m still surprised by it and extremely grateful. It afforded us actors the luxury of people seeing us week after week and it gave us an incredible profile, and the chance to spread our wings.

“I went on to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company on Broadway and Upstairs Downstairs certainly helped me to achieve that.

“The show has represented nothing but good fortune for me and I was lucky to be able to work with such wonderful people on it. We had such amazing scripts – the writing was great.”

Hazel Bellamy was a pivotal character. A middle-class woman, she found herself caught up in an affair while her husband was at war. And she had to suffer the contempt of Mr Hudson, the butler played by Gordon Jackson. “Gordon was such a wonderful man,” Meg says of the Glasgow star. “Without him I wouldn’t have taken the next step.”

Meg says she was unaware that a new series of Upstairs Downstairs is being filmed, for transmission at the end of the year. “Is it?” she says. “I had no idea. I’ve been very busy. But I should think it will be wonderful.

“And if Jean Marsh is in it (the actress who played Rose and created the series) then it will be very good indeed.”

Meg has worked with the great and good of the acting world. In recent years she has appeared in films such as Gosford Park, Love, Actually and Pride and Prejudice. She rates Gosford Park as one of the best acting jobs she’s ever had.

“Director Robert Altman was wonderful to work with,” she says. “And just look at the cast list, just to be part of that was thrilling.”

Meg, who lives on the West Sussex coast, is incredibly thankful for her acting lot. “I love the job,” she enthuses. “It’s a wonderful way to earn a living. I always wanted to be an actor and I appreciate how lucky I am.”

Meg doesn’t expand upon the process that took her into the business, except to say she didn’t go to drama school.

But she certainly convinces that she found her true vocation. “A year ago I was out of work for five months, then Pygmalion came up,” she says. “Right out of the blue. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Indeed. And she finds great joy in working with other actors. What’s rather a pity is that she won’t share the detail.

When asked about appearing, for example, in the classic TV series Dr Finlay’s Casebook, she says simply that it was “great” and stars Bill Simpson and Andrew Keir were “wonderful”.

“Really, I do love this business,” she says, smiling. “And I so appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. It’s been very nice.”

• In The Pipeline, Oran Mor, September 6-11.