I hate to say that my mother was 'just a housewife', because in addition to that she has had lots of part-time secretarial jobs in factories and hospitals, always working really hard for our family.

At my school, Shakespeare wasn't on the syllabus - at least not for me.

I'm not a show-off; I'm not an exhibitionist.

Women do well in their thirties. They put their bags down and say, 'This is who I am - like it or lump it.' There is a more relaxed quality, which I like.

As an actor, you always want to keep it different, change it up, and, you know, just to keep yourself inspired and work with interesting characters.

Every job feels like my first.

I don't like the word celebrity. If I become a good actress and be in movies where I'm expected to be a good actress, who is recognised, that's different to being what I consider to be a celebrity. My job is an actor and that's what I'm passionate about and adore. It's a privilege to be able to do this job for a living.