I want to do something where I play Judi Dench's younger sister or daughter.

I am a kid in the dressing-up box at heart.

If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush.

Young people need their own private places which mothers don't belong to, even if they want mother all around the edge of that.

There is a latent fairy in all women, but look how carefully we have to secrete her in order to be taken seriously. And fairies come in all shapes, colours, sizes and types, they don't have to be fluffy. They can be demanding and furious if hey like. They do, however, have to wear a tiara. That much is compulsory.

I know what it's like to struggle for cash. When I went to drama school, I worked as a chambermaid to make ends meet.

I never do any television without chocolate. That's my motto and I live by it. Quite often I write the scripts and I make sure there are chocolate scenes. Actually I'm a bit of a chocolate tart and will eat anything. It's amazing I'm so slim.