I get grumpy about the innate conservatism of our tastes; I love bold theatre, and I get annoyed when a heritage piece is really successful.

I can't spend the rest of my life being pretty in a bonnet.

My alter egos have changed a lot over the years. When I was a child, I was a black horse called Storm. Whinnying and jumping over bamboo poles in the garden took up pretty much my entire childhood.

Female ambition is such a complicated thing to play because it is an aggressive quality, and people respond very badly to women exhibiting any kind of aggression.

I can only do something that my sister or my daughter, if I have one, could watch and feel positive about.

I don't really want to do things that I feel like are going to send out a message that I don't really want to sign up for.

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.

We live in a society where children are expected to become adults overnight.

Motherhood so often comes in conflict with women's capacity to express and live their own lives.

I have always been interested in gender politics, so I'm not that keen on doing things that don't represent a truth about women.

I just don't believe you're capable of being an actor unless you have a desire to experience your emotions in a public way.

When people starts to enjoy a writer's pen, he becomes a legend even if his stories are neither long nor publicly surrounded by expectations.

My mom started smoking when she was 11. She went to the hill next door to try her first cigarette. She set the entire hill on fire, but it didn't deter her.

Remember, half the doctors in this country graduated in the bottom half of their class.

Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitude.

While many applauded Oprah for opening her heart to young girls in South Africa, some criticized her for not investing in the youth of America.

My mom was a social worker. I had a pretty good idea of what the authorities can do when a parent's not around.

The monarchical institution in England is immensely valuable.

I think everything you do in your life affects you creatively. Especially in music, if you do another thing musical.

In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

I take every role seriously. Personally, I never look at any role as Michael White. I've done that my entire life.