There is a kind of invisible thread between the actor and the audience, and when it's there it's stunning, and there is nothing to match that.

Sort of what you do in drama school when asked to play something way out of your reach. Anyway, we used to laugh a lot about that. I used to say I'm not going to act old, Penelope. I'll just be myself.

I said 'It can't go on' and he said 'No, it can't.' Honestly, I don't think I could have mattered less to him by then. But by then, nothing mattered to him.

The last couple of years have been a write-off, though I'm beginning to feel like a person now. My energy is coming back.

I had a very good English teacher who said to me that she thought I ought to do it. She - I don't know, she saw something thank goodness because I think if it hadn't been encouraged by somebody that serious, I'm not sure what would've happened to me.

My career is chequered. Then I think I got pigeon-holed in humour; Shakespeare is not my thing.

The performances you have in your head are always much better than the performances on stage.