Madeleine West ‘never been more ambitious’ in wake of Shannon Bennett split

MADELEINE West says she’s “never been more ambitious” as she moves on from her split with chef Shannon Bennett. The Playing for Keeps star is going full steam ahead after years of putting her professional career on hold for family.

“I’M so fired up and I’ve never been more ambitious than I am now.”

That is Madeleine West on the set of Playing for Keeps days before revelations that the 38-year-old has separated from chef Shannon Bennett after 13 years.

West has a lot more on her plate than coping with the split and raising six children — Phoenix, Hendrix, Xascha, Xanthe and twins Xalia and Margaux.

MADELEINE WEST: THE TRUTH ABOUT MY MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN

In weeks West will begin a directing stint on Neighbours.

She is also busy scriptwriting and has already published parenting book Six Under Eight and children’s book series Lily DVAP.

The cast of Channel 10 drama Playing for Keeps including Madeleine West (centre) and Olympia Valance (bottom left).

After years of putting her professional career on hold for family, West is going full steam ahead with work projects.

“My kids are at a good age for me to really dig deep into the (television) industry and I’m really enjoying it,” West says.

“My sense of self and self-esteem are higher than they have ever been. I know there are no limits if I believe in myself

“The mantra I have always told my children is ‘don’t make excuses make it happen — the only thing making excuses guarantees is a front-row seat to watch the world pass you by’.”

Playing for Keeps marks a new step in West’s acting career. After a series of feature roles in House Husbands, The Wrong Girl and Fat Tony & Co it is time to play the lead part.

Playing For Keeps is based around the lives of the women whose partners play for elite AFL club the Southern Jets.

West has split from chef Shannon Bennett after 13 years. Picture: Getty

West is Kath Rickards, the wife of coach Brian Rickards (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor). Kath prides herself on being the mentor and den mother to other club WAGs (wives and girlfriends).

Olympia Valance (Neighbours) is Tahlia Woods, the girlfriend of Southern Jets captain Connor Marrello (Jackson Gallagher). Annie Maynard (Upper Middle Bogan) is Maddy Cochrane, the wife of star player Travis Cochrane (Kevin Hofbauer).

Cece Peters (The Wrong Girl) plays Paige Dunkeley whose boyfriend Daniel Fletcher (George Pullar) is the club’s newest recruit.

“Kath is definitely the queen (of the WAGs) — there is no doubt about that,” West says.

“I’d never seen a character like her on commercial television in Australia before.

“She’s not the 21-year-old ingenue. She is a woman with a few years under her belt, she’s got a family, she has had a career and she is exceptionally devoted to her husband and his career.

West with Neighbours co-star Ryan Maloney in 2003.

West as Danielle McGuire in Fat Tony and CO. Picture: Channel 9

“She is also unapologetically sexy. I think a lot of women out there (viewers) will look at her and go ‘I know you’ or ‘you are someone I would like to be’.

“I know quite a few (football WAGs) and what struck me most about all of them is that these aren’t women riding on the coat-tails of a partner’s fame.”

Valance had just moved to Hollywood after quitting Neighbours when she was sent the script of the first episode of Playing For Keeps.

“I thought ‘this is a really good one for me to come back for’,” the 35-year-old says.

“Talia has so many levels and so much depth to her.

“She is an incredibly successful young woman. She doesn’t really need a man. In public she is quite proper but behind closed doors she is completely different. She has a potty-mouth which is so much fun to play.

“I’m friends with lots of women that are with football players and I’ve taken quite a few things (for the Tahlia character) out of my own life.

Madeleine West and Olympia Valance in Channel 10 drama Playing for Keeps. Picture: Supplied

“It (television celebrity) is quite a similar world (to football WAGs). You’re in the public eye, you have to put on a bit of a show but you also have to keep something for your friends and family.

“With Tahlia and Connor you want them to work but we’ve cheated on each other in the past so it is not a stable relationship.”

Valance says she is in awe of West’s ability to juggle acting, directing, and writing with the demands of motherhood.

“I don’t know how she does it — she is Wonder Woman,” Valance says.

“She comes to work every day so prepared (knowing lines) but she will have also found the time to make protein balls for the crew.”

West, like Kath, is something of a den mother on the set of Playing For Keeps. She has taken Valance, Maynard and Peter under her wing.

“I have five daughters and I want to be a role model for them,” West says.

“You can’t have everything all the time but you can give it a red hot go.”

Playing For Keeps, September 19, 8.30pm, Channel 10.