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I am a character actress. Well, let's say, I am a leading character actress who does interesting, odd parts.
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I worked in rep for six years, then I came to London and to the National Theatre. What's better than that?
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Having a child makes you strong and gives you chutzpah. It relaxed my attitude to the job; my center of focus shifted, which I think is very helpful, because even if you're not a very indulgent actor you spend a lot of time thinking about yourself. I don't think that is particularly healthy.
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I don't think it's that I don't like Sondheim. It's that I find it really... I don't know how to describe it. Doing it is the most extraordinary thing. Because it's like Shakespeare times 100 with singing. It's that satisfying - and that demanding.
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I've fallen over on stage a couple of times, but I've only ever bruised my ego.
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You can only do your best. That's all you can do. And if it isn't good enough, it isn't good enough.
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You read about poor people having Botox go wrong and you think: 'Well, what the bloody hell were you doing?' Why would you inject yourself with poison? And why are we spending so much time looking at ourselves? I just don't get it.
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There are lots of wonderful actors doing animated films these days, but I prefer it when you can't recognise them - it means they've really become the character.
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If you're at an award ceremony, you're against your mates.
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We're all unique as actors. To yourself, you are unique. You have to think, 'I'm me. I'm not going to bunch myself with other people.' Agents and producers have to get you into a box to accommodate their limited imaginations.
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I've always liked new writing.
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I've always tried to fight against, 'Oh, who's that small funny actress? Let's get her.'
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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.
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Fortunately my career has never been about how I look, it's about how I can be.