I adore acting; it's in my blood - quite literally - but I can honestly say the most creative thing in the world for me is being a mother.

I think that as you get older, you become aware of everything that could go wrong.

Filming is quite exciting because every day is different, but it can involve long hours standing around in chilly locations. Theatre is a very different challenge because every night you're striving to keep it fresh, even though you might have been performing the same play for months.

Nobody can prepare you for the loss of a parent.

My father Philip was an actor and appeared in everything from 'The Onedin Line' to 'Hedda Gabler' with Dame Diana Rigg.

I adore acting; it's in my blood - quite literally - but I can honestly say the most creative thing in the world for me is being a mother.

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