Sadly, the timing's never been right. There have been men who would have married me but I didn't feel the same, and vice versa.

It's a bit of a headache being a perfectionist. You're never satisfied.

At the beginning of my acting career, I worked for two seasons at the RSC and spent a lot of time in the Cotswolds exploring Shakespeare's countryside. It's my kind of English landscape, with its tiny villages and one-room thatched pubs.

I'm lucky to have very good genes. My mother was so tiny she was almost bird-like, and my father was tall and lean. Both lived until their early 80s.

I'd like to break some new ground, maybe in TV presenting, rather than just be an actress.

I've always been terrified about not having money. I've been a big saver and a big earner. When I've been out of work, I've always found another job. I never wanted to get into debt, because money was very tight when I was growing up. I never felt deprived, but I couldn't have the things I wanted.

Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, the higher your profile, the more castable you are in TV dramas.