My mother was a domestic goddess and Mother Earth figure. She was sweet and placid - just what the perfect wife was supposed to be and I was determined not to be.

And then I wrote my first autobiography when I - well, it was 23 years ago. And since then I've written about one book every two years.

Only fine cigars are worth smoking and only men who smoke fine cigars are worth kissing.

I don't know why people are so obsessed with age anyway. I mean, 90 is the new 70 70 is the new 50 and 50 is the new 40 so the whole act-your-age thing? Only up to a point.

The easiest way to convince my kids that they don't really need something is to get it for them.

The secret of having a personal life is not answering too many questions about it.

I'm a fiend for costume jewellery and have countless pairs of rhinestone or diamante earrings, which are so flattering when they catch the light. I love the designers Alexis Bittar and Kenneth Jay Lane, and I always go to jewellers Butler & Wilson.