The only real failure is the failure to try.

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

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

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

People think you know beforehand when you win an Oscar - I can assure you you don't.

Children have become disengaged from nature and we need to reintroduce them to the pleasure that it brings. If we do that they will care for it. Through the simple act of planting a tree we can open their eyes to nature's beauty.

I once said to someone when I was playing Lady Macbeth and they said: "That's tricky, emotionally, what do you do about murdering your husband's cousin?" And there are, of course, things that aren't in your personal repertoire that you have to somehow understand by reading or watching other things and listening to other people talk about them.