I think the more mediocre you are the better you do because people need to think you're their friend, they don't want to be threatened by you, you've got to be warm, you've got to be not too smart, not too pretty, not too anything.

People think you can't be clever if you have breasts.

I've always paid my own way, I've never lived off anyone.

I regard myself as an actress but, obviously, not in the Dame Judi Dench league. That isn't a problem because I don't think we are ever likely to be up for the same part!

Women in the 1950s were so much sexier. That's what I aspire to look like.

I've never had one of those amazing yoga bodies. My body is what it is. I am sure if I went on a crash diet, lost two stone and toned up I could make loads of money by making fitness videos and selling my story to the tabloids. But I don't want to encourage women to be anything other than what they are. That's very important to me.

What I am is how I came out. No one's perfect and you just have to accept your flaws and learn to love yourself.