If you make a film about a pig farmer in Wales and you are a huge hit as the pig farmer's wife, the next thing is you'll be asked to do a film about a sheep farmer in Scotland.

I find it difficult to explain, but I'm quite ashamed of being an actress.

People will now go to films with subtitles, you know. They're not afraid of them. It's one of the upsides of text-messaging and e-mail. Maybe the only good thing to come of it.

I never raise my voice!

Often, the roles I'm offered in England are melancholic women who are filled with regret for the past, regret for their fading beauty.

I love shooting French films because I don't have to stick with being sophisticated or stuck-up.

I think I'm inspired mostly by other artists that aren't actors, like writers or singers or artists, for being so brave.