People like bonnets. I don't think you can under-estimate that.

I'm not one of these people who say how much better American drama is than English. I find it mostly too American, except for The Sopranos, which I think is the best thing.

I remain, however, fairly optimistic for the future of period drama because it's just such a popular thing.

Plan for each episode to be a satisfying experience, but still leave the audience thinking, 'Oh, my God! Now what?

Most actors hate readthroughs - they're exposing themselves before they're ready to, and before they've bonded. But I love them because they give us all the first inkling of what the whole show is going to be like, how each part affects every other part, and we won't see that again until it's all edited together.

Rebecca Eaton has made an enormous contribution to the cultural life of America, and, more than that, she is one of the most fun people I know.

The older I get, the more fun it is to write young people. It's just a holiday from what is becoming old age, really.