Having long since passed the sell-by date for Hollywood actors. 54-year-old former Bond beauty Jane Seymour has pulled off a daring comeback. And if her notch-applauded and brilliantly conceived role as a sex-mad Washington wife in hit comedy Wedding Crashers has every -40-plus female actor green with envy, then she is the first to admit her comeback came at a price.

"Despite the success of Dr Quinn, the director didn't have a clue who I was so I had to audition, something I'd not done in 30 years." Seymour says.

"In the end, I auditioned three times before they gave me the role. It was a bit of a reality check."

But Seymour eventually beat out scores of rivals, including 65-year old Raquel Welch. to land the coveted role: gamely ripping off her bra for an hilarious scene in which actor Owen Wilson fondles her, bare bosoms.

'Having never before bared my breasts on screen. it seemed a little insane to he doing it now that I'm in my fifties. But there was no denying it was a great role so I went through with it.' the petite mother of six says.

Seymour is one of the few over 40s working actors who doesn't display , the perennial frozen Botox brow.

"I hope Jane will one day forgive me for making her audition so many times," Wedding Crashers director David Dobkin says.

"I admit I'd never heard of her before. but I was soon put right. It seemed the whole world knew of Dr Quinn except for me.

Every time I mentioned to someone that I was considering casting her they'd crack up laughing and say. 'Dr Quinn." That's just too funny' or something similar. which gave me concern that this would he perceived as stunt casting and could well backfire.

"But Jane was passionate about this role and worked hard to prove she was up to playing this lusty, boozy Washington wife. "What was really sad was the fact there were, so many other accomplished actors desperate to play what is really quite a minor, character.

Says Jane: When I read the script I thought it was the funniest thing I'd ever, read. I thought the role - and that topless scene particularly - was probably one of the funniest moments in the movie.

"I really wasn't prepared to bare my breasts but I soon abandoned my inhibitions after realizing the whole world was after this role."The audition was somewhat embarrassing because I had to take off my top so they could see I was... OK to some degree. But the director had me jump through hoops.

" After my first audition, he asked if I could 'up the sex a little bit'. I said. 'Sure. if you give me something other than a middle-aged woman to play opposite.' They gave rne this really hunky guy so then I was going. 'Oh my God. now what am I going to do?' But then, of course, I had to do it.

"The rest is history. I did it and they liked it. I'd also like the world to know it's not a body double - it's all me she says. laughing.

The audition was nowhere near, as awkward as the real thing. which was really embarrassing.

"First Owen had to put his hands on my breasts. He had his fingers very tightly closed and his eyes were very lightly closed and it was very funny.

"'Then the director said. '0wen, could you open your fingers a little bit'. and he was a little worried about that.

"Eventually I said. 'Owen it's OK. As far as I'm concerned, I'm Kitty Kat (her raunchy on-screen character) here. I'm not Jane Seymour . . . but if you do this later. you're in big trouble.'

Seymour anxious to explain her decision to finally go topless at 54, says it was very funny.

"I've chosen not to do this in my career before, but the discussion that I had with the director before the shoot was that it would be done with class and I think it was." she says.

"I also wanted to make sure it was edgy. funny. shocking-and I think it is.

"That said. I was a little apprehensive about how my children might react. My daughter Katie is very picky but she loved it. She howled with laughter and turned to me and said. "Mom, way to go. That was really great'.

"Katie is also an actor and she really appreciated that I did something completely different and was brave enough to do it."

Seymour says she's at a funny stage in her career where people say she doesn't look her age. That's very nice, she says. but at the same time Hollywood wouldn't let her play her age - until Wedding Crashers came along.

" My beauty secret'' I get plenty of sleep and I don't overdo anything, including exercise." she says. "I never smoke. I run after nine-year-old twins and I don't focus on what I look like or what I do for myself.

"I put my own hair and make-up together normally in about 15 minutes. "I do my own manicures because I don't have time to go and do that. I don't do dermabrasions and I haven't done any facelift stuff.

"As an actor. I think its irresponsible to get rid of all those wrinkles because I think those wrinkles are what makes you a good actor,"

Seymour's fans may be disappointed to learn that flashing her boobs in Wedding Crashers is just about as far as she's prepared to go for the sake of art.

"I don't think you'll see me doing any full frontal nudity - and I don't think you'd want to. Nor, will you see me in a porno. I guarantee that." says the four times-wed actor who is also a tireless activist successful artist, children's clothing designer and public speaker.

Ask her to discuss further the roots of her portrayal of the inebriated wife of a Treasury Secretary. whose only joy is in booze and seducing younger men. and she suddenly turns serious.

"I know a lot of Washington wives and I know a lot of politicians because I go to Washington a lot and I have many friends in Congress," she says. 'However, I think it would be very difficult to be a politician's wife. There's a lot of entertaining involved and a lot of roaming eyes. You have to be tough. Fortunately. I'm one of those lucky people whose just not an addictive personality, though I love a glass of wine. Playing this boozy broad was a lot of fun because there's an enormous number, of women who are sedated at this point in their lives because their lives have not turned out the way they hoped they would and they're just trying to get through life.

I think it's a little sad actually, very sad " says Jane now wed 12 years to director James Keach and juggling a blended family consisting of step-son Kalen (Keach).28. step-daughter Jenny (Flynn), 25. Katie, 23. Sean, 19 and nine-year-old twins, Johnny and Kris.