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.

One of the benefits of being a mature well-educated woman is that you're not afraid of expletives. And you have no fear to put a fool in his place. That's the power of language and experience. You can learn a lot from Shakespeare.

I think you've got to have your feet planted firmly on the ground, especially in this business, and you must not believe things that are said or written about you, because everything gets out of proportion one way or the other.

People seem to have this idea that I've always been very ambitious. Nothing could be further from the truth.

There is no past that we can bring back by longing for it.

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

I don't think that care homes are all rotten old places that ought to be shut down.