My mother, for the last 20 years anyway, would not call herself a Marxist but a human rights activist.

The early part of my career I really struggled, getting turned down again and again. I was in debt, and it was horrible. And then my family hit such highs in their careers, I asked myself what I was thinking going into the same profession.

When I very first started out, I had that arrogance of youth.

I'd love to adopt, but having a daughter, Daisy, who's in the middle of her teens, I'm now thinking: Is this a time to start all over again or is this a time to realise those child-rearing years are over?

It's very difficult when there are pictures taken on the red carpet. I find those things so terrifying that another persona just kicks in. I don't recognise myself.

I care so much less, now, about going up the ladder; if I cared about the ladder I would be doing it all very wrong.

There's still a bit of a problem, in that so many leading English roles are taken by American or French actresses.