At the time of the Silver Jubilee, I was a grumpy anti-monarchist. I didn't celebrate and was appalled by the celebrations. In my idiocy, I missed out! I feel completely differently now compared with that time.

[Washington is a] very gossipy little village of people all going to the same bars . . . all watching each other having affairs with each other

I'm a would-be rebel. The good girl who'd like to be a bad one.

Acting is acting, but acting is different in almost always every project, and very, very different in this context.

My grandfather had come over as a member of the czarist army, to make an arms deal with the British government. Being a blinkered military man, he was unaware that the Russian Revolution was about to take place.

The control and understanding of our personal fears is one of the most important undertakings of our lives.

I still suffer terribly from stage fright. I get sick with fear. Not every night, but at the beginning and on occasion - not necessarily when I'm expecting it. You just have to cope with it - take it on the chin and work through it, trying to use the adrenalin to perform.