I am proud of my cake-making image but life is not that perfect. There are socks in my fruit bowl.

I was always very determined, as was my husband, that we wouldn't let any of our children act when they were young.

I learnt basic cookery by watching my mum.

I try to be classic without being mumsy.

Listening to my regular favourites - Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and so on - I always feel, quite misguidedly, that nothing can be too bad if such beauty and brilliance exists in the world.

I look at myself objectively and in a way I see myself as a commodity. Your name becomes somehow outside yourself. Now, when I'm at home being Mrs. Scarfe, that's when I'm most myself.

My parents were not theatrical at all.