The most political thing you can do is be yourself

Remember that I was out of the closet at the age of sixteen. My parents knew I was gay; I'd had to tell them.

My mother and father were fantastic, very active. I find it difficult to say this, but I'm quite a loving person and I've always been loving to my friends. In the long run, that pays off. I'm very interested in other people, and if you are, they're interested in you.

I think people could be a bit friendlier. The only real contact you have with people is when they're annoyed if you've had a party - you know, it's been a bit too noisy for them or something.

I suppose there is a lot of toughness in me.

When you go onstage, you go on there to have a good time, and you smile and you engage with the audience and you invite them in.

She's probably in denial that she's a great big ball of insecurity and I'm quite well aware that I am one.