I often think you need a lot of courage to be in the acting business. The job itself can be incredibly challenging for various reasons. Sometimes it's impossible and requires sheer guts.

I have the most dreadfully appalling eyesight. I'm really shortsighted and have been since I was about five. I was the speccy girl with the pink National Health glasses. That's my physical vulnerability, and I wish I could put it right, but I can't - even with surgery.

My father was a television director and producer, working on documentaries and current affairs programmes including 'Panorama,' and I didn't think he'd find acting a sensible option. But as soon as I'd finished my A-levels, I got on a train to Edinburgh, and that was it.

When my kids were in the school play for the first time, I decided I had to make the costumes from scratch and bought material, wadding, dyed T-shirts, and purple tights so I could say I made the octopus costume myself.

I want to go to Denmark and Scandinavia. We've been inundated with their telly recently, and I've never been to any of those countries. I really want to get to know the people. I quite fancy living there for a bit if I could take a month off. They just seem like upfront, friendly folk.