My parents wanted me to work in a bank or as an accountant.

I'm a sucker for turquoise sea, white beaches and palm trees. I've been to the tropics every year since I could afford it. It's the perfect place to unwind. I can chill out, read, do a bit of yoga.

Mum had a job fitting upholstery into cars, but, in the evenings, she worked as a seamstress.

When people speak their own language you get a much better sense of who they are.

When I was 10, I knew there was something different about me. Everyone was football-mad, but I just wanted to watch musicals and see art.

A good show makes me happy. It's a great sensation. If you could capture a great atmosphere and do it every time, that would be amazing.

Before a long-haul flight, buy yourself a cheap, big, comfortable pillow. It makes a huge difference.