I'm a bit of a Doubting Thomas - always worrying about things.

I'm very wary of trust, you see.

I know people think that I always play these characters who are in control and can chop someone's head off with a look.

I mean, if you're being directed very precisely by somebody who has admiration and who's really smart, it's great. If you're being told what to do by a nincompoop - and luckily that hasn't happened very often - it can be very frustrating.

Exoticism can give you an edge: it makes people assume you're cleverer than you are and gives you the upper hand.

It takes a long time to appreciate one's parents.

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.