I also started writing songs because I had this burning activity in my heart and had to express myself.

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.

I didn't want to be perceived as a girly girl on stage.

Life is not quantifiable in terms of age, but I suppose in my fifties I am more grounded and more at ease in my own skin than when I was younger. I have a confidence that I didn't have before from the experiences I've had.

I'm not particularly attention-seeking.

I was perceiving myself as good as a man or equal to a man and as powerful and I wanted to look ambiguous because I thought that was a very interesting statement to make through the media. And it certainly did cause quite a few ripples and interest and shock waves.

I wasn't trying to be a role model for anybody. I don't think that you can.