Julie Bishop has admitted to flirting with world leaders in order to advance her political career.

The former Liberal Party deputy leader revealed there were times she used 'whatever skills' at her disposal to survive in a male-dominated industry.

Ms Bishop, who served as her party's number two for nearly 12 years, said while she never tried to play the gender card she has sometimes used charm to get the job done.

Julie Bishop has admitted to flirting with world leaders in order to advance her political career

The former politician made the admission during a wide-ranging discussion about her political life on Andrew Denton's Interview.

'Did you ever flirt as part of the job?' Denton asked her during their one-on-one on Tuesday evening.

'There were times when I would be overtly friendly to people,' Ms Bishop responded. 'It had the desired result.'

Ms Bishop, 63, also spoke about her much-publicised decision to wear a head scarf when meeting the president of Iran as Australia's foreign minister in 2015.

She followed the country's custom that women cover their heads, a move commentators said showed her 'succumbing' to the oil-rich nation's values.

Defending her decision to wear the head scarf, Ms Bishop said she added elements of glamour to the garment - which was an Armani shoal.

Bishop, who served as her party's number two for nearly 12 years, said on Tuesday night while she never tried to play the gender card she has sometimes used charm to get the job done (pictured on Andrew Denton's Interview)

In a wide-ranging interview, Bishop, 63, also spoke about her much-publicised decision to wear a head scarf (pictured) when meeting the president of Iran as Australia's foreign minister in 2015

'The reason I wore it is because I would not have been able to have the meeting had I not had my head covered,' she said.

'You can try and make all the statements in the world about 'I'm going to refuse to wear a head scarf' but my job was to be in the room to meet President Rouhani.'

Elsewhere in the interview with the Channel Seven broadcaster, Bishop said one of the toughest moments of her career came following the loss of 38 Australian lives on flight MH370.

Elsewhere in the interview with the Channel Seven broadcaster, Ms Bishop said one of the toughest moments of her career came following the loss of 38 Australian lives on flight MH370

'I was on my way to New York sitting in an airport lounge - I started ringing the families and it was terrible, really, really terrible,' she said

Three West Australian siblings in her electorate aged eight, 10 and 12 were on board, and Ms Bishop had to make the painstaking call to their grieving parents.

'They were from my electorate. They knew (about the plane's disappearance) and were on the edge - they just didn't think they'd be able to go on.'

Ms Bishop has been slowly cementing her socialite status since her sudden departure from politics.

She has also recently turned down a $315,000 offer to become South Australia's next governor to take on the lucrative speaking circuit instead.