I'd been gearing up to working in theatre since coming out of drama school, but it was an exciting time for TV drama - it was the birth of Channel 4, and Brookside was very cutting-edge at the time.

I have sleepless nights before press days.

I like to think I'm a listener, and I'm fascinated by observing people - I suppose you just lock that in.

I think you know what you're up against when you take on a piece that you know is going to involve dragging up a lot emotions - you can end up being deeply immersed in gloom.

It always interests me how obsessed people are about age.

If I want to run around a field when I'm 70, I would like to have that option.

Running gave me a focus to start looking after myself, to eat properly, and focus on building up my strength.

I always start from scratch with a character - they're never based on anyone else. You get ideas of what people look like, and I'm a great people watcher. You can draw inspiration from people.

Whatever I'm doing, I try to give it everything.

Being an actor is an extension of telling a story and I loved story telling as a child.

No, I always wanted to be an actress.

A new baby is a bundle of hope, a smiling imagination, and a dancing dreams.

Beauty of your love-filled smile created a mark on the stone wall of my heart, I can erase it never.

Nature has made up her mind that what cannot defend itself shall not be defended.

My whole career - I have been really lucky.

Your desires and true beliefs have a way of playing blind man's bluff. You must corner the inner facts.

The Brown decision promised that every child, regardless of the color of his or her skin, would have unequivocal access to quality education and an equal opportunity to pursue his/her dreams

There is nothing that dulls a personality so much as a negative outlook.

I think Donald Trump and Jeb Bush are the frontrunners. It's kind of like the race between the tortoise and the bad hair.

My official cruise ship band name is now A Band On Ship.

If I am an empress, he is the only man worthy of being my emperor.