Sometimes I go, “What am I doing with my life?” But then I get letters from young women, or people come up to me, and they say, “You’ve made such a difference to my confidence.” And that is a good thing. I should read more fan mail though. I’m crap at responding.

My father fell really chronically ill when I was 13 and that's when I phoned up an agent and started to act.

I don't think kids have a problem with death. It's us older ones who are nearer to it, that start being frightened.

The parenting bit is much harder than the acting bit. You just never know what to do.

When you write for very young children what they want is something familiar and safe and stereotyped.

You can actually have a pitch button, you know, to get people on pitch.

Everyone seems to think I'm very ladylike. That I'm very cultured and intelligent. I drink alot of Diet Coke and belch. I've been known to use the F-word. I've told a few dirty jokes. I arm-wrestle.