Women don't question themselves when they enter into a story that has male characters, but men do question the validity of a female narrative.

I think I was quite lucky in that I went to an all-girls school. I was never put in an environment where I had to be the other - the woman as opposed to the man - all the way through my education. I was never made to feel that way at home.

I'd actually really love to review books and films and plays, but you can't be an artist and a critic. I would love it if I could.

I love the theatre and I love working in the theatre but I'm a big cinefile and I love the movies. I also do scribble but to limited success! I think I find being in a room on my own quite hard, which I think a lot of actors do because what we do is so inter-active. It's a very supportive profession... despite its reputation for being highly competitive it's actually one of the most collaborative professions you can do in the arts because you're always working in a team.

I want people to think I'm sexy, but to know also that I've got an ordinary body and not feel intimidated.

I realise there's an innate paradox in promoting oneself on the one hand and saying, 'Oh, I don't want to be famous,' on the other.

You don't have to conform to a very specific aesthetic today, whereas 1950s women definitely had to.