I feel with this film that as long as we tell Philomena's story and as long as we're true to her, which Jeff and Steve have already done by writing the story... we must not sell her short;. She's a most remarkable woman and all my concern was that we must be absolutely true to her story.

We get up in the morning. We do our best. Nothing else matters.

I played Iris Murdoch, who had not long died, and I felt the responsibility very heavy on my shoulders.

The more I do, the more frightened I get. But that is essential. Otherwise why would I go on doing it?

I've always loved painting, although I never show anyone what I've done. Mainly because I don't do it well. But it's like a form of visual diary for me. A way of fixing things in my mind.

I need to learn every day.

I get sillier as I get older, so I don't know what wisdom means. I can only pass on something that I've been acquainted with and let whomever it is pick the bones out of it