I sometimes do worry that actors are people’s role models, you know. And doctors and teachers and people doing really important things just get paid nothing. And they put us on the cover of magazines. They should be our heroes. I find it all a bit dubious.

It’s hard to stay grounded. It’s so fucked up with all these stick thin people!

A woman looks beautiful when she’s true to herself. Her inner beauty shines through. Its like being in love – it shows. You have a natural glow, you can’t help but beam – thats beautiful.

I’m not one for parties and stuff like that. I get a bit nervous around lots of people. Being invisible is what I really enjoy. That I find quite entertaining.

I find Hollywood really toxic.

I’m not quite ready yet. But yeah, ideally. I guess thats what happens if you’re straight and a woman. Oh, even if you’re not straight. I can’t think of some exotic alternative, like growing martians in my left shoe. –on motherhood

I go along, do my best, and realize that I can’t do anything about what people think.

I think mystery is kind of great. I don’t know anything about Bette Davis or Katharine Hepburn or Ava Gardner – not really – and I like that. I love watching their movies because they’re my personal movie stars. I don’t know what they eat and who their trainer is.

They’re very harsh critics and they’ve often said to me: ‘That was shit, you were crap,’ but this is the first time [after he saw 'Amy Foster'] my father said to me: ‘I think one day you’ll be a good actress.’ — on her parents

If a man in the street: ‘Cheer up love,’ or ‘Smile, love,’ I’m instantly evil. There was one time I was in a greengrocer’s and he said: ‘Cheer up love, it may never happen,’ and I turned round and said: ‘Actually, my brother just died.’ I don’t even have a brother! And he just went: ‘I am so sorry.’

She’s a great example of a brilliantly penned self. You know, a created self. ls she even heterosexual? We don’t know. She’s a great creation, this blonde, happy lady. -on Dolly Parton, who she loves

The celebrity thing… I don’t want to sound as if I absolutely don’t want it because that’s not true. If you’re in the entertainment business, you have to be honest. There’s something alluring about it…

I actually think if you are an actor and you’re working and you’re doing pretty well like I am, I feel you really have no right to grumble. I don’t think you do. Obviously I could think of things that piss me off sometimes, but it’s such an amazing job. You get to travel, you get to stay in beautiful places, meet incredible people. And every time you do a different role you learn something new. Frankly, if you don’t like it, you should stop and do something else.

There’s nothing I would do if I didn’t act. I’ve only ever wanted to make films and now I am. So, right now, I’m sorry to say, I’m very satisfied. It’s gross, isn’t it?

Camels – ugh, they’re horrible, really horrible. They smell, they really hate people, they’re foul, they have terrible breath and they scream really loudly when you make them go.

Theatre is going back to basics, going back to the core of your heart and technique. There’s a lot to be precious about the theatre because it is a very magical feeling to be on the stage.

I think it’s true in that you have to stop thinking too much and just use your heart and your gut and your instincts. Any intellect just gets in the way. You just have to go with the feeling and not over-analyze. — on acting

I’m not at all like the tough, sexy femme fatale in Confidence but it’s fun to play people who’re really different from you, from different cultures and places. I suppose I’m a bit quieter than most of the people I play.

I’m quite fumbly. She was actually incredibly close to home in lots of ways. — on her character Evelyn in The Mummy

I thought it was an awful film!
-on Chain Reaction

Everyone experiences the underground. You don’t make friends there. You have to go into that blank state where you don’t exist. I find it quite comforting, the sounds and the jolting, it seems really safe and comforting.

I once made the mistake of telling a reporter I always wanted to be a barrister. And I got a pitying look, followed by an article along the lines of, ‘The poor little tart thinks she could get a proper job’.

God no! I hate it, absolutely hate it. I can’t stand it, it’s such a drag. So I just tend to wear the same things all the time. I don’t like change anyway. — on shopping

I’m a bit superstitious about certain things, like what shoes to wear. If I wear the wrong shoes, the whole day may go wrong. Or if I don’t get to the bottom of the stairs before the door closes – stupid little things like that. Then I also have all the normal ones, like don’t walk under ladders and so on. — on her hobbies I wish I had some exotic hobby like doing yoga upside down on a tightrope, but I don’t. I just like good conversation, and I love seeing my friends and going out for a great meal.

“I had to find a dress that would glow with me — that was the main challenge,” said Rachel Weisz, who is five months pregnant and looked quite voluptuous in her strapless gold gown by Donna Karan.