Claire Sweeney dazzles in a plunging jumpsuit as she rings in 50th birthday with al-fresco meal

She celebrated her 50th birthday on April 17.

And Claire Sweeney proved the festivities are still going strong a week later, slipping into a plunging jumpsuit for an al-fresco dinner with friends in London on Saturday.

The former soap star was in high spirits when she stepped out in the show-stopping number, and could barely contain her excitement when presented with a delicious-looking birthday cake.

Teaming her outfit with a pair of open-toe heels and accessorising with a delicate silver necklace, doting mother Claire made sure she was the centre of attention.

The actress wore her bright blonde hair loose, and added a splash of colour to her look with red nail varnish.

She made sure to toast herself with a glass of bubbly.

It comes after Claire admitted she had a ‘wobble’ and ‘freaked out’ when she turned 50 this month as she discussed having a ‘really hard time’ over the last year amid lockdown.

The former Brookside actress who is the mother to son Jaxon, six, said on Monday that despite the challenges of the past year, she ‘couldn’t be happier’.

Speaking to OK! magazine from her four-bedroom house in Pimlico, central London, Claire said of turning 50: ‘I have friends saying, “Embrace it,” but I’m having a right old wobble. It suddenly seems old, but I know it’s not because I feel great.’

The Scarborough actress said she is more comfortable with herself now then ever before as she counted her blessings, including her son, in the interview.

Claire gave birth to her only child in September 2014, whom she shares with her former fiancé Daniel Reilly.

After giving birth in her early 40s, she said she is glad she waited to have a baby later in life so that she could fulfill her goals and tick off most of her career checklist.

However, Claire admitted it hasn’t been plain sailing with her son during the pandemic, especially with homeschooling.

Reflecting on lockdown, she added: ‘Part of me has enjoyed it. There were moments when I struggled, of course, like with homeschooling.’

‘I have so much respect for his teacher. I messaged her one day saying, “I’m crying and he’s crying. We’ve been fighting. What do we do?”‘

She added that there were times she and her son ‘locked horns’ and that homeschooling caused ‘too much disruption’.

Aside from her parenting challenges, Claire said that the past year was ‘really hard,’ for those in the TV and entertainment industry due to a lack of work.

According to the Liverpool native, she has barely worked after her pantomime was cut short due to lockdown.

Nevertheless, she is now looking forward to the future after landing a new presenting gig on BBC Radio Merseyside.

She described the new opportunity as a ‘godsend,’ not just financially but also due to the enjoyment it gives her.