I think it's always hard for people to get their head around the fact that populist, commercial films can also actually be great works of art.

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.

You know, he [Alan Rickman] played these very reserved, sometimes-cold, sometimes-threatening characters on the screen, but the reality of the man was incredible warmth and humor and generosity and wicked fun.

My parents believed in education and economic security, and I thank them for it. Because I think that's part of what's made my life stable. It was instilled in me. You have to be able to pay your bills. You do not get into debt. And I never have been.

I have no maternal instinct whatsoever. Motherhood holds no interest for me.

As an actor, those are the roles that you long for. You always want something that's going to kick your last role out of the water and put you off on a new path.

You know, you have to allow life to play itself out, don't you? And one thing you learn is that it doesn't stop. It moves on.