In a play, the director is God, and I'm a great arguer. Rather boringly so, I think, about trying different things.

I do still get the odd fan letter about The Good Life, clearly written by somebody aged 18, who says: Will you send a photograph? And I think: Maybe it's kinder not to. I'm deeply into my 50s now.

I hope to start enjoying flirting again when I'm 70, like my mother did.

It's nice not to have lines when you frown, especially on TV. I don't know why people make such a fuss about it. No one is interested if a woman has her teeth capped or her hair dyed.

I'm not very much of a foodie; I like small amounts of delicious things, but I've never overeaten - I'd much rather have a glass of wine.

I can be very difficult if people are not professional, or lazy - or the opposite, which is take themselves too seriously.

So many roles for women demand that you make the audience fall in love with you or sympathise with you.