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

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 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.

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

May you find love, joy and hope at Christmas and every day of your life.

It is frightfully difficult to know much about the fairies, and almost the only thing for certain is that there are fairies wherever there are children.

I am conscious of trying to stretch the boundaries of non-fiction writing. It's always surprised me how little attention many non-fiction writers pay to the formal aspects of their work.

Focus on your music and not technology.

Putting the Yankee uniform on every day.

Comfort makes you weaker. We need some variability, some stressors. Not too much, but just enough.

This is one of the last industries where the subject is off limits. Nobody’s comfortable in engaging in a conversation.

Thunder only happens when it's raining.

One can only blaspheme if one believes.