Usually I’m frustrated when I look at my films and I don’t believe that I’ve made a real transformation beyond my usual sets of gestures and expressions. I still have this nagging feeling that it’s me, that I didn’t create a unique character.
I was weird right from the start. It’s just that you can’t ever expect people to get you. And I do think that really did mess with my head, being well-known young, when you really don’t know who you are.
I’ve never had white teeth. To be honest, I’ve never been told to do any of those horrible things – get your teeth whitened or your nose straightened.
Sometimes I go, “What am I doing with my life?” But then I get letters from young women, or people come up to me, and they say, “You’ve made such a difference to my confidence.” And that is a good thing. I should read more fan mail though. I’m crap at responding.
On corsets: I said, You have got to be kidding. I am an ape and yet I am still expected to squeeze myself into one of those damn things.
I was reading William Shawcross’s biography of the Queen Mother, dressed in my witch outfit! And you know what? It was a really good mix; it was a therapeutic mix.
I think I’ve still got a bit of a sado-masochistic streak in me, because if I’m not going to be restricted by corsets and covered in lace, then I still wind up wearing an ape-mask over my face. I do wonder how I get myself in these situations!
I just went and got an agent because I thought I can create my own world – you can’t right your own life, but you can escape to a world where you can have control.
You can actually have a pitch button, you know, to get people on pitch.
When you write for very young children what they want is something familiar and safe and stereotyped.
No, I can never rely on Tim to make me pretty.
It took me so many years to move out. I’m definitely a bit of a Peter Pan, reluctant to grow up. It all seemed really nice at home-why change it? Part of me would prefer not to have any responsibility whatsoever.
It was a challenge to be able to create a character without being able to use one’s normal set of expressions. All the rubber and makeup attached to your face left you with only a modest range of facial movements.
I loved doing all those costume dramas. I didn’t think, ‘Ooh I’ve got to avoid being typecast’ – you can’t ever be dictated to by what other people think. I just do things because I fancy the parts and the directors.
The problems come when your personal life and relationships come under scrutiny in the press and often very uncomplimentary things are printed about you.
As everyone, you do end up becoming your mother, but also as you’re acting, I find out you become every member of your family, bits come out without you really wanting them to come out.
Be yourself. No one else can.
What I loved about playing the corpse is that obviously somebody else got to do the physical part. It appeals to the part of me that likes playing character parts and getting the chance to get away from my own physicality.
Maybe from now on puppets can do the parts.
Everyone seems to think I’m very ladylike. That I’m very cultured and intelligent. I drink alot of Diet Coke and belch. I’ve been known to use the F-word. I’ve told a few dirty jokes. I arm-wrestle.