The thing that influenced me most in relation to 'Nanny McPhee' were the Westerns I watched with my father. All the Spaghetti Westerns; all the Virginians; all the High Chaparrals. Because if you think about the form, it's a stranger from out of town.

Children don't need much advice but they really do need to be listened to and not just with half an ear.

Once you're a mom, you've been split into two people. It's like Peter Pan and his shadow.

Children are the most wonderful audiences. What's struck me most is that that they watch it so silently, until the end when they shriek and shout and clap.

Piracy is our only option.

The only way you can have it all is by delegating all the running of the home to other people - which I don't ever want to do... So you do it yourself, and it takes time and energy and effort. And if you give it the time, it's profoundly enjoyable.

Its unfortunate and I really wish I wouldn't have to say this, but I really like human beings who have suffered. They're kinder.