I get very frustrated when I hear women saying, "Oh, feminism is passé," because I think feminism means empowerment. Men can be feminists, too! Many men are feminists. We need feminism. It's not against men; it's about the empowerment of women. It's the respect of women - giving women equal rights, the same opportunities.

If you come face to face with some really challenging situations and tragic circumstances - you are going in there with a purpose. You are not going in there as a tourist.

Pop stars are so busy having a career that they don't really have a lot of time for activism.

I want to be true to who I am.

We all come from women, and there's something extraordinary about the mothers who raised us.

I'm not intensely private - I talk a great deal about my life and my work - I just don't play the game to excess.

We all fight over what the label 'feminism' means but for me it's about empowerment. It's not about being more powerful than men - it's about having equal rights with protection, support, justice. It's about very basic things. It's not a badge like a fashion item.