I have been acting for 32 years now and I feel so lucky to be able to have done exactly what I wanted to do.

I have been acting for 32 years now and I feel so lucky to be able to have done exactly what I wanted to do.

I think some people think that being on television makes you a sitting duck, but you have the right to remain private.

I'm becoming more squeamish. I didn't use to be - nine years of 'Silent Witness' prepared me for most things one will have the misfortune to see in life. Before, I'd be wading up to my neck in gore, but now I tend to look away.

I could suddenly see the pressures all around; these endless magazines and cheap reality TV programmes poking at women, humiliating us for every flaw. It makes me so angry. I really wonder what it is we are doing to ourselves, because I do think women can be the worst ones for picking each other apart.

I think you know what you're up against when you take on a piece that you know is going to involve dragging up a lot emotions - you can end up being deeply immersed in gloom.

Whatever I'm doing, I try to give it everything.