It sounds ideal, a sort of beach childhood. But it wasn't really. I didn't use the beach very much at all.

I wouldn't want to go back to my 20s; they were pretty angst-laden times.

For years, I never knowingly went on a holiday. When I travelled, it was for work. Now I am a huge advocate, particularly to places which have amazing wildlife, such as Antarctica, India and Patagonia.

In my industry, everybody wants to know everything about you, and its just dumb. I think the only way of maintaining some of that mystique is by not giving away too much about yourself. It has served me well so far. I never want to feel up for grabs.

Feminism was a dirty word for a while.

I would rather do many small roles on TV, stage or film than one blockbuster that made me rich but had no acting.

My roots are still in Britain, that's where I live, that's the place where I come from.