My skin still crawls if you call me a movie star. I get embarrassed. I think, don't be ridiculous. Maybe it's because I'm British. To me, Julia Roberts, that's a movie star. But when people do call me one, that, I think, is an enormous compliment but, my God, is that a responsibility!

It's my chance to challenge myself to the fullest, which is one of the great joys about my job... I love it when a character requires me to look less than my red-carpet best. It's more fun playing a character that requires you to look like dog s - t.

I am incredibly passionate about my life, I am absolutely unable to hide any emotion. If I wrote a book, I'd have to call it 'P is for Passion'. I don't go in for anything halfway. My feelings about things are instant, on the spot. And my heart is always, always on my sleeve.

As a woman, especially when you have children, one gets so good at soldiering on - almost too good.

Youre supposed to be the leading lady in your own life, for Gods sake!

If I had a child, I wouldn't let them go to drama school. At times, I was really unhappy there.

I've decided I am going to start loving my backside because I don't know anyone who does that. And for my daughter, I want to be able to say to her, 'I love this.'