There are lots of actors, and you need a way to stand out. Writing comedy sketches was a way of doing that.

I started writing sketches with Dennis Kelly, who I ended up writing 'Pulling' with. We entered a BBC competition and did quite well, then started writing bits for other people's shows. You wheedle your way in, write pilots and eventually you end up writing a sitcom.

Things change when you get to 40. I'm embarrassed even that I'm going through it. In a very morbid way, at 40 you become aware of how long you've been on Earth and you start to question what you're going to use the remaining time doing.

I think that's important to women in comedy, that we get a lot of the good lines and you're not just the girlfriend or the sister.

I've never for a second felt like my job has been more of a struggle because I'm a woman.

I'm a massive scaredy cat. I'm scared of being in a fast car, I'm scared of being on a rollercoaster, I would never go skiing, I would never do anything that had the possibility of endangering my life in any way. I should get some therapy, really.

I always, always want to make people laugh. In every situation. Even when it's inappropriate.