As You Like It' was the first Shakespeare production I ever did.

Shakespeare's taught me that there are more words in the English language than I have got in my head.

Shakespeare showed me that once I understand the rules, I can break them.

My mother was adorable, a great giggler. My father was very strong and could be quite frightening.

I don't want to be a director, or to have responsibility for hundreds of people.

I dont have the confidence to be a personality.

I have lots of passions - gardens, art, music and reading. I have eclectic taste and read a huge variety of books.

I don't know any woman who is happy with her looks. I certainly wouldn't want to be friends with anyone who was.

And children? 'I don't have any regrets about not having had children. What's the point? It's just something else to beat yourself up over.

I'm constantly intimidated by Shakespeare's work. Trying to decipher what he's saying and holding on to that thought - not just as an actor, but as a human being - is a rigour.

I absolutely hate clothes shopping, though I love clothes. It's my idea of heaven to be handed things to wear.

A gold cage is still a cage.-King David IOh, go cry in a bag of money.-Queen Christina

I hate nothing more than sugary photographs with tricks, poses and effects. So allow me to be honest ?and tell the truth about our age and its people.

Put simply, what I'd like to do is to see the first two years of community college free for everybody's who is willing to work for it.

Metal is the feeling of being an outsider, but still being part of something huge.

The best friend will probably acquire the best wife, because a good marriage is founded on the talent for friendship.

Mathematics, the non-empirical science par excellence . . . the science of sciences, delivering the key to those laws of nature and the universe which are concealed by appearances.

I've been accepted at Cambridge University. I want to study Chinese history and archaeology. I want to become a student. I want to read Chinese history and go on a dig.

Feminine virtue is nothing but a convenient masculine invention.

I wanted to make a jazz record. I didn't want it to be a standards record.

If you don't have humour, then you may as well nail the coffin lid down now.