My mother adores singing and plays piano. My uncle was a phenomenal pianist. My brother John is a double bassist. I used to play the piano, badly, and cello. My brother Peter played violin.

I would say the next imminent hot writers are often the writers from the decade before you were born.

The Americans are very clear, and obsessed with nouns.

Acting doesn't have to be threadbare misery all the time.

I think America becomes more disgruntled by going to the movies and having an endlessly good time at them.

Also, an area that interests me - and it will probably take years to state what I mean - is the period of the rise of democracy, with Tom Paine, which is around the turn of the 18th century into the 19th.

Honestly, I get more recognized for 'Three Men and a Little Lady' than 'Harry Potter'.