There's a strong melancholic streak in me.

I'm a silly little needy person sometimes, and I crouch in a room all alone and think of all the people that I wish were with me.

I don't for a second regret my closeness to them because they were wonderful, golden parents who gave me so much confidence.

Mummy was absolutely the rock in my life. It was not that I didn't love my father; he was such a quiet man, and she was not. She was the most vivid person I have ever known. She was accomplished and brave and fearless. She used to say to me, 'I want you to be able to talk to anyone about anything.'

People tend to think I'm funny and fluffy, but I can switch on a sixpence from extreme happiness to utter despair. I'm aware that doesn't make it easy for people sometimes.

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.