When women get great roles in life, they start to get great roles in films and TV. Look at Janet Reno, Madeleine Albright, and Mrs. Thatcher. Because those images are coming at us in life, they are reflected in acting.

You have to go through the long, painful process of learning techniques to be able to recognize a "good accident" or a "bad accident."

You write your life story by the choices you make. You never know if they have been a mistake. Those moments of decision are so difficult.

I'm a naturist at heart. I love being on beaches where everyone is naked. Ugly young people, beautiful old people, whatever. It's so unsexual and so liberating.

I was never that kind of star. I was never cast because I was gorgeous.

With that incredible voice that he [Alan Rickman] could play like a sort of wonderful instrument, like a cello or something. He played his voice, and he could be the most subtle of actors. And he could also be quite a big actor. He could do the grandiose performances as well.

I'd describe myself as a Christian who doesn't believe in God.