By Wendy Watson PUBLISHED: 17:26 EST, 15 May 2013 | UPDATED: 22:23 EST, 15 May 2013 When a beautiful young woman loses her breasts, the last thing you expect her to say is that she's delighted. But, believe me, I understand exactly why Angelina Jolie is overjoyed to have lost hers. I also completely understand why Brad Pitt claims it's a happy day for their family. Because I felt exactly the same when I became the first woman in Britain to have an elective mastectomy 20 years ago. Brave choices: Wendy Watson (left) with daughter Becky. Both have had double mastectomies to reduce the risk of breast cancer
@highlight
Actress revealed she had mastectomy to eliminate risk of breast cancer
@highlight
Wendy Watson lost her mother AND grandmother to breast cancer
@highlight
To avoid a similar fate, she had a double mastectomy
@highlight
Pregnant daughter Becky has now, too
Rather, just like @placeholder I felt I was empowering myself, and that felt incredibly exciting.