My mother was adorable, a great giggler. My father was very strong and could be quite frightening.

My father's death from prostate cancer in 1993 was tragic. He never complained about pain. He was a fighter. By the time he was ready to die he wasn't able to die in the way that he wanted to, which seemed an outrage to me.

The great lesson my mother and father gave me was almost invisible. It was a strong sense of being rooted.

I'm constantly intimidated by Shakespeare's work. Trying to decipher what he's saying and holding on to that thought - not just as an actor, but as a human being - is a rigour.

I absolutely hate clothes shopping, though I love clothes. It's my idea of heaven to be handed things to wear.

I have lots of passions - gardens, art, music and reading. I have eclectic taste and read a huge variety of books.