Fear is an underrated emotion. And that's why I think it's very dangerous to try and cosset children from it. A healthy scare is as good as as a healthy laugh. In fact, they're two sides of the same coin. There is a desire to shield from the knocks and bumps of reality.

I love going to galleries, particularly the National Portrait Gallery.

The first film I can remember seeing on TV was 'The Brides of Dracula.' I was instantly hooked.

I always compare reading anything on the Internet to listening at doors. If you don't want to hear anything bad about yourself, you should never do it.

When I was seven or eight, I was bought a fantastic book called 'The Movie Treasury of Horror Movies' by Alan G. Frank; it became my bible. It's packed full of the most amazing photos and is still fantastic to look at.

If not exactly raging against the dying of the light, I was at least a little cross with it.

Slightly forgettable movies can sometimes make great musicals.