My ideal man would be like a champagne cocktail. With an apricot. Sweet and fizzy. Serious with a sparkle

Brandy is 47% proof. The drink is distilled from wine or fermented fruit mash and is aged in wooden containers, paraffin-lined casks or earthenware. But that really doesn't matter. Especially when a glass of it is lodged firmly in the hand of lovely Gretha Cavazzoni.

In fact, it wouldn't matter if Gretha was offering you a tankard of monkey sweat, you'd still accept it with delirious gratitude. Which is why, when the marketing men at Martell put their heads together, they came up with the idea of putting her in their Brandy adverts. Inspired work.

'I suppose you could compare me to a glass of Brandy,' trills the Italian-born beauty. 'Well-travelled, daring, adventurous and fun. Perfect for having at home.' And would there be any ice in this metaphorical beverage? 'No, I'm all warm inside,' she giggles.

Not surprising really as she obviously spent most of her life browning in the Mediterranean sun. Then, tired of driving around on stylish, if under-powered, scooters, Gretha moved to New York where she became a familiar face on the more fashionable catwalks.

So what's the best thing about living in the Big Apple? 'The bars,' she replies, with the tone of voice you'd expect from Oliver Reed after a week on the wagon. 'Drink relaxes me. I get really sleepy and slow. I love to go out, talk and dance with people.'

Do we take it she enjoys a drink? 'Well, yes. In moderation. There have been times when I've had too much, but I'm not going to tell you about that.' Not even if we, say, invite you out and offer to buy you a very large drink?

'Sorry, I'm playing hard to get. My ideal man would be like a champagne cocktail. With an apricot. Sweet and fizzy. Serious with a sparkle.' Sounds like an Alka-Seltzer to us.