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

OK, I wasn't as successful as, say, Julia Roberts, but I'd spent years in a very respectable career, some big American films but a host of other smaller, really exciting, maybe experimental films, being paid rubbish but working with fine people, that was what I thought I was known for.

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

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.

You grow up by making mistakes. I've made a ton of them, but as long as I keep on failing better, I don't mind.

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'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?