You don't go to a comedy and try to laugh. You laugh in spite of yourself. You don't just come on stage and cry. Something has pushed you to cry.

It's true, I've become one of those grumpy older women.

Acting attracts shy people and show-offs.

I have spent my whole life educating myself.

I am drawn to characters that go on journeys, characters that are real people, that have life.

I don't tell everyone my life history because if everyone knows your inside-leg measurement, how can you surprise them?

You need to keep on doing things you have never done before in your career. You have to have a go.

I've learnt to listen. I don't think I always did listen.

When you play someone who is an iconic figure you can't go into it lightly.

I've had very close relationships with some twentieth-century writers.

I've never lost a grown-up child, but I have known loss.

The More we value things, the less we value ourselves

For Fate/ The willing leads, the unwilling drags along.

I'm actually one of those people who get up energetic in the morning.

In the papers this morning: 'Police closing in on Ian Holloway.' Sorry, it's 'Palace closing in on Ian Holloway.'

I believe that the way to a man's heart is not through his stomach. It's a little further south.

To run an effective political party you need a degree of tribalism, it's the glue that holds everyone together.

My goal is to make as many films as possible about different aspects of American life.

When someone says you can't do what you know you can do, then you can't do anything

Real art must always involve some witchcraft.

I had BEEN making futuristic records way before a lot of the groups that came out, but now everybody is running to make their albums sound new, but it sounds too made up.