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" I think it's very important not to grow up with the unhealthy amount of attention that is sometimes put on people because they are 'actors'. "

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" I think I was brought up with an innate sense of responsibility because my dad was in the Foreign Office where you were in somebody else's country, and you were aware of your behaviour. And my mum worked for the NHS, so you were aware of your responsibility to your country. "

" A script is only as good as the director who's making it. "

" The benefits of feminism for someone like my husband are fantastic. He can stay at home with the kids, he can take them to a park, he does the school run. "

" If you think you are beautiful in a scene, you will come across as beautiful. I don't think looks are important; I think what's important is if someone is sexy. "

" Actually, I'm looking forward to being 50. Because to me, that's when a woman is at the pinnacle of her femininity and her womanhood. "

Looking Forward

" I love live performance and have huge admiration for people who can really do it. It's the same with music: I'll play a record and think that I'm not really into country or ragga. But, if it's live and the musicians are good, I'll listen to pretty much anything. "

" There are a lot of little lessons that can be taught around the home without sitting a child down and boring them to death with your philosophy of life! "

" I love dressing up. But I'm very low-maintenance; the week before an event, I'll choose something as quickly as possible and that's that. If I can do my own hair and make-up, even better. I like it to be fun. "

" I'm a very positive person. My grandmother taught me that happiness is both a skill and a decision, and you are responsible for the outcome. "

" I feel as though my life is bathed in golden sunlight. And the really wonderful thing is that I know it. "

" Every time, at any point of my life, I think now is always the best age to be. "

" I use my awards as doorstops. Others are in the office or in little cubbyholes in our library - they go between the books, because they actually look like arty pieces. "

" My own parents were very un-neurotic, so I never thought that I had to change enormously in order to become a parent. "

" I was lucky to learn early in life that you need money for food and shelter, but there's no ambition in having money in the bank for the sake of it! "

" If I were in politics, I'd make both left and right sit down and make good decisions about national health. It's a huge problem, and it is something we all should be part of. "

" I can sleep anywhere! I can come off stage during the interval of a play, lie down for four minutes then wake up feeling better. "

" As I've got older, I feel more confident in my body, so wouldn't want to tamper with it. "

" I was very lucky. I left college, and Richard Eyre was in charge of the National Theatre. I was offered the lead in 'The Seagull' with no experience and went on to do five plays there. "

" I listen to Radio 4 all the time. I didn't go to university, so that's my further education. "

" I really love my food. My favourite thing is artichokes. I am not so much interested in desserts or chocolate, though. I also like to cook with my husband Damian. "

" What I find most interesting about acting is transforming myself. "

" I used to say that theatre was my favourite thing. But the more I do film, the more I appreciate it. "

" When I was 14, I told my mother I intended to be in the House of Commons in the morning, in court in the afternoon and on stage in the evening. She realised then a fantasist had been born. "

" The only time I ever spend alone is when I am working or when my husband is away filming. I put the kids to bed and have an hour and a half in the evening for myself. "

" A perfect weekend in London has to start on Friday night, by going to the theatre, the Donmar or the National. It's a cliche for an actor, but I enjoy going as much as possible. "

" Childhood has definitely been invented, hasn't it? I think that's because people had children later, and we appreciate and cherish childhood a lot more. "

" So often when you meet child actors, they're weird - they're freaks. No, I mean it, they're really odd people. "

" I spent my teenage years in Paris when my dad was stationed there, and I'd look at women in their forties and think, 'That's the age I want to be.' "

" People who are exceptionally intelligent are often lonely because there are few people as intelligent as them. I have two little children, and everyone says: 'I hope they're doing well in school. I hope they're bright.' And I think: 'Why would anyone want their children to be the brightest?' Academia is a lonely world. "

" Appallingly, I hadn't thought about it one jot. I never daydreamed as a little girl of getting married and having children. I was as surprised to discover I was getting married as I was to discover I was up the duff. "

Having Children