My older brother, who was in the Army, now owns his own building company. My half-sister was a nurse and is now a psychotherapist.

If I didn't have children I might be more of a lush than I am. I like booze. I struggle with smoking. And I'm a big swearer. I'm trying to rein it in but I do think it's a nice seasoning of language.

I spent years commuting into London when I was working as a temp, and I hated the monotony of it.

I suppose I have played a lot of put-upon women, but it's never bothered me. They've never been weak - they've always got steel in them.

If a script is good, you are 10 steps into the part just reading it. But my choices are not all down to my taste. It is about people you have worked with before.

I don't think you can cry if the script is rubbish. I have to feel it; it's as simple as that. It's just like if you're watching something moving, and you feel yourself welling up. It's the same thing. You're just being carried along with the story. There's nothing magical about it. I think I'm in touch with my emotions, and I can't help it.