I was a new devotee of Eastern mysticism and even though I did not join that particular group, I could well have done. They seemed a bit extreme but I regarded myself as not quite ready.

My biggest excuse to others and myself was that I had writer's block, as if it was some kind of illness.

I was bullied and regarded as little bit of an oddball myself.

I've done well for myself.

In the back of my mind was the constant hankering, almost yearning, to write but something always stopped me in my tracks. Or if I did find my way to put a pen to paper or finger on a keyboard I'd give up after a few minutes. I'd find other things to do: Anything but writing.

Even though I've done Hollywood films, I still don't think of myself as a Hollywood actress.