I was brought up a Catholic, so I take no pleasure in guilt.

If you're at an award ceremony, you're against your mates.

Chaotic people often have chaotic lives, and I think they create that. But if you try and have an inner peace and a positive attitude, I think you attract that.

You can only do your best. That's all you can do. And if it isn't good enough, it isn't good enough.

I've always liked new writing.

Agents and producers have to get you into a box to accommodate their limited imaginations.

Look at Judi Dench, who's brilliant in whatever bloody job she does.

I worked in rep for six years, then I came to London and to the National Theatre. What's better than that

You could say I'm a character actress. Or maybe a character actress who does peculiar, interesting lead roles. Does that make sense?

The one good thing is that I get a lot more good scripts coming through my letterbox. 'Vera Drake' raised my profile in one way, and then 'Harry Potter' in another.

Fortunately my career has never been about how I look, it's about how I can be.

Yakka foob mog. Grug pubbawup zink wattoom gazork. Chumble spuzz. I love loopholes.

Be cheerful!

Humble yourself and Learn or by all means Teach and or mentor someone.

I shall live here in the rains, There in winter, Elsewhere in summer, " muses the fool, Not aware of the nearness of death.

Christmas in L.A. is weird. There's no snow. It's not even cold.

Every great film should seem new every time you see it.

Sanity is to be found in accurate honesty to oneself.

There's something perverse about women...they're all masochists at heart.

The bastards have never been bombed like they're going to be bombed this time.