Paradoxically, in the field being a woman actually helps you: people often feel more comfortable talking to women, which is key in documentaries.

I studied anthropology and art history, as I have always been captivated by living traditions.

I grew up in Siena and was surrounded by the Palio, and all my friends at school were obsessed with it. But since my parents are English, I was never quite part of it.

The Palio is shrouded in mystery and secrecy, and the players can't discuss their devious schemes.

Documentaries are unpredictable. You never know what will turn up, and the drama occurs in real time. But if you listen to people, a narrative always emerges.

Success is no proof of virtue. In the case of a book, quick acclaim is presumptive evidence of a lack of substance and originality.

Thinking is more interesting than knowing, but less interesting than looking.

Keep as near as ever you can to the first sources of supply—fruits and vegetables.

Im Sorry was one of the first songs to come out of Nashville using strings.

There's no such thing as a perfect life, but if you hold on to that long enough and watch it get chipped away, that's really hard to deal with. I had no one telling me otherwise.

Life is about making right things and going on.

Science consists exactly of those forms of knowledge that can be verified and duplicated by anybody.

I say if you're worried, vote smart. Vote smart.

A nun of winter's sisterhood kisses not more religiously; the very ice of chastity is in them.