Performers are so vulnerable. They're frightened of humiliation, sure their work will be crap. I try to make an environment where it's warm, where it's OK to fail - a kind of home, I suppose.

I don't belong to any clubs, and I dislike club mentality of any kind, even feminism - although I do relate to the purpose and point of feminism. More in the work of older feminists, really, like Germaine Greer.

If you read Keats's poems, they're often full of doubts and anxieties. They can be quite tough.

Only when you are relaxed can you see what's going on.

When you first fall in love it's so thrilling, you can't wait to throw yourself away and make this new wonderful twosome.

I fell in love again (laughs).

I'm a much better filmmaker than painter. But studying it did make me visually acute and taught me lessons like being economic: Say something once and you don't have to say it again.