I had absolutely no idea of the scale of its following and the globalness of 'Bond'.

Nobody can prepare you for the loss of a parent.

Something like 'Sex And The City' was insulting - women all clawing on to their youth when there's such ripe territory in honestly exploring women's lives as they get older.

I managed to slip two children out in the middle of my career and have been lucky with all the work.

Agatha Christie holds special personal memories for me because my mum, a television producer called Pat Sandys, had been the first person to persaude the Agatha Christie estate to put one of her stories on TV.

When I got on stage, I would have a rush of adrenaline; everybody gets it. Normally after the first night it becomes more controllable, and as long as I could ride the wave, I was still in charge.

I tend to opt for relaxed family holidays when I can.