I have to keep working because, although I have land, I'm not cash rich and don't have the wealth of high-profile actresses - don't say I'm an 'actor.' That's a bit too modern.

In terms of my development as an artist, playing Professor Sprout wasn't all that important because she is well within my capabilities as an actress. But in terms of marketability, it made an enormous difference.

People who were gay were pitied and ridiculed by my parents - they had no modern sense of people being allowed to be who they were.

I think Britain is a bit class-ridden. People tend to be judged by how rounded their vowels are.

Where I think the American actor is slightly at a disadvantage is in vocal technique. I don't think that words are their friend in the same way that English actors are used to using words: understanding about consonance and how to shade a vowel to show emotional color.

Old people have a much better time in India because they're respected.