My mum Margaret was a single parent, but though life was a bit of a struggle she gave me every encouragement.

As a child, I always chose a false nose and some face paint and a wig for my birthday.

I've always been quite thrifty. I can't bear to spend hundreds of pounds on designer clothes. I shop in second-hand shops in Portobello Road and go to Sue Ryder.

Nobody is more individual than you, so be confident with who you are and what you have to offer because everybody has got things to offer.

I take my hat off to mums who have lots of kids. Anyone that says being a mum isn't a full-time job has obviously never had any.

It means I wake up to sunshine every morning, and I can afford to drink better wine at night. But I haven't completely sold out to Hollywood.

I always knew I wanted to be an actor, certainly from the age of eight or nine. I think when you know what you want to do, you're very lucky because you've got a focus.