Seriously, though, I think I never ceased to be grateful of the fact that I am able to do a job that I really love - I never got over that.

The only real failure is the failure to try.

It takes courage to recognize the real as opposed to the convenient.

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.

I couldn't be a one-woman show, since I wouldn't have anybody to bounce off from. Once you're out there, dribbling on, you have nobody to interrupt you. I love being part of a company, and telling a story.

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

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