Miriam Margolyes

There's a strong melancholic streak in me.

While researching my ancestry I have unearthed many skeletons. It would seem that I come from a long line of ne'er-do-wells, especially on my mother's side.

The first piece of property that I bought was in Tuscany in 1973.

I may have a talent for acting, but I am incapable of doing anything else.

I think all actors get scared because we're frightened to disappoint.

People who were gay were pitied and ridiculed by my parents - they had no modern sense of people being allowed to be who they were.

I don't have a very positive attitude towards rappers.

Unfortunately, I don't know many black people.

I love political cartoons from the 19th century, and whenever I complete a piece of acting work that I'm particularly proud of, be it a film or play, I treat myself to a picture by caricaturist James Gillray.

Everything's harder for women: harder to start, to stay employed, to run a life with a family.

I'd have thought my particular brand of quirkiness, combined with sharp intelligence and a fine voice, would have yielded more. But it hasn't. Yet!

I'm not a comedian, but I do make people laugh. I'm good at it.

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, I would say, 'Lose weight.'

Old people have a much better time in India because they're respected.

My father was a doctor, so I thought I was going to be a doctor, too, but I couldn't do maths; I couldn't do science. I was hopeless at chemistry.

The curious thing is that I embraced homosexuality with as much joy and delight as I've embraced everything else in my life.

I think I should be described as 'bi' - not bisexual, because I'm not - I'm gay - but 'binational' because I retain British nationality, and I add to it being Australian, which is like having your cake and eating it.

I don't like class distinction, and there is far too much of that in England.

My looks have changed, but I was never beautiful, so I'm not any less beautiful now.

I've been fat my whole life and pretended I don't mind. But I do mind. It's really stupid that I've gone on being greedy and fat.

It's shameful to admit, but it's been a bit of a lifelong affair, and I do now feel I'm as good as it gets. I'm honourable, kind, friendly, warm, intelligent, generous, and I've got a good sense of humour.

I don't understand why gay people are so anxious to get married.

It's very hard to talk about Palestine to Jewish people - they see me as a betrayer.

What's the difference between herpes and love? Herpes is forever.

I know that a lot of my life is spent thinking about crisps and eating crisps and hating myself for eating crisps. It's just not worth it. Or it wouldn't be if crisps weren't so delicious.

I don't like religion.

Adelaide's charms are compelling. It's not a huge place; the size is manageable, the traffic absurdly light.

My home in Adelaide was the Adina Hotel.

Sydney has taken my money, Melbourne has my respect, but Adelaide has taken my heart; I shall return.

The main fear about growing old as an actor is not losing the looks. I never had any to speak of, and what I had I've still got, but losing the memory is another matter.

I have no secrets. I decided very early on in life that the strongest position was to be completely open.

I had a very good kiss from Bob Monkhouse once. I thought, 'If I was straight, I would go for Bob.'

Glenda Jackson called me an amateur in 1976 when we were in a play, 'The White Devil.' I've never forgiven her.

My vocabulary is vast and expert, and I don't think I overuse any word.

My mother died of a stroke in 1974, and for a long time, I blamed myself. She was utterly devastated when I told her I was a lesbian not long before.

People tend to think I'm funny and fluffy, but I can switch on a sixpence from extreme happiness to utter despair. I'm aware that doesn't make it easy for people sometimes.

Confidence was the backbone of my upbringing. I was an only child, so I was spoilt, loved, and given an enormous amount of confidence by my parents.

I'm a silly little needy person sometimes, and I crouch in a room all alone and think of all the people that I wish were with me.

Nobody likes Jews. You can't say people like Jews. We're not popular. We're too smart to be liked. But it has been unacceptable to express anti-Semitism since the Holocaust.

My feeling is that the English are naturally anti-Semitic.

Although my parents both liked her, they just didn't approve of a same-sex relationship. Nowadays, people say that you must let children be what they are, but when I was growing up, the parents defined the child - and my parents had a definite vision of how they wanted me to be.

I used to get into bed with my mother every morning, almost until she died, and talk about everything. She was my closest confidante always. I had no secrets from her.

I think life is sweeter shared; and if anything were to happen to my partner, I would find it really hard without her because she's the perfect person for my life.

I don't for a second regret my closeness to them because they were wonderful, golden parents who gave me so much confidence.

I still miss my parents every day; I adored them. And when you have no children, friends are even more important to you.

I'm going to be 75 in May. How can I have lived this long and not know anything?

I have a class prejudice - against the upper class, which is foolish.

I want a comfortable old age and to be looked after - I have arthritis - and money is a factor.

I wouldn't consider retiring to India: there are too many people, and it's difficult walking along the pavements. I'd love to spend two or three months a year there.

Getting older is a hideous experience; I'm so glad I only have to do it once. But I've kept my mind, my career, my relationship, and I have enough money - I've been blessed.