I'm a much better filmmaker than painter. But studying it did make me visually acute and taught me lessons like being economic: Say something once and you don't have to say it again.

I would love to see more women directors because they represent half of the population and gave birth to the whole world. Without them the rest [of the world] are not getting to know the whole story.

There are some things that are real, that you can see, that you can observe, like the moon, and grass and things. But for ideas to become real, they have to be played on your senses.

For me, being a director is about watching, not about telling people what to do. Or maybe it's like being a mirror; if they didn't have me to look at, they wouldn't be able to put the make-up on.

I think if it's interesting, it's interesting, and if it's not, it's not working.

I'm someone who loves to play. I make films so I can have fun with the characters.

It's harder being a woman director because on the whole women don't have husbands or boyfriends who are willing to be wives

Only when you are relaxed can you see what's going on.

Performers are so vulnerable. They're frightened of humiliation, sure their work will be crap. I try to make an environment where it's warm, where it's OK to fail - a kind of home, I suppose.

The studio system is kind of an old boys system and it's difficult for them to trust women to be capable

Women today are dealing with both their independence and also the fact that their lives are built around finding and satisfying the romantic models we grew up with.

To his dog every man is Napoleon hence the constant popularity of dogs.

That's the big mistake the environmental movement made - 'We'll scare the hell out of you, and you'll become an activist'.

There is nobody more terrible than the desperate.

Humor is the contemplation of the finite from the point of view of the infinite.

Real genius of moral insight is a motor which will start any engine.

Quality … has to do with intention.

A good role comes along, and a good role is a good role.

In terms of worship, I think we ought to have the right people leading.

The dirty secret of art is you don't have to show people your bad writing. That's what we have the delete key for.

How can a you hit and think at the same time?