I like solitary pursuits, such as reading or pottering about in the garden.

Even when I became the typical shy adolescent, I never minded performing. I felt there was a kind of safety, a protection about being on stage, about losing myself in another character.

My sons are precious to me and I have tried incredibly hard to strike the right balance between work and home life while being acutely aware that I haven't always got it right.

Wherever I am in the world, I never get Sunday night blues. I suppose it's because I've never worked at any one thing long enough to start hating it.

Roses are my favourite flower, and my mum always grew a lot of them.

In my life, things have happened to me. I've never felt I was controlling anything.

My best feature is my hair.