Actress

I'm absolutely certain that audiences want to see older women on their TVs.

My father's family, I think, were mostly from Lancashire, but I don't know how far back we go. I think it's quite a few generations.

Love is love. It doesn't matter about sexuality, it's just about how you feel towards somebody else and being good and honest with them.

It's down to the actors to show the writers the potential of the character.

I only did five or six weeks in 'Guys and Dolls,' and when I was 26 or so, I was in 'Blood Brothers' for a year on the West End, playing Linda, with Kiki Dee.

You start out with scripts pre-written, with no specific actor in mind, so you've got to build a character on top of that foundation. It's not just lifting words off the page, it's constructing a history around them as well.

I truly believe that love is love and gender is immaterial.

It started at 49 with 'Tango in Halifax' and then 'Happy Valley.' I can't complain at a time when most actors are disappearing. I seem to have become very visible.

Being in the public eye makes you frightened to talk openly about things - which is precisely why you should. You can really make a difference and open up subjects that are taboo.

Age affects us all in the workplace. We all get a little less appealing as we get older, unfortunately.

Two of the best roles I've ever had have happened in my late 40s.

I think all writers have a style, a particular voice and rhythm that you have to find.

I can bake but I don't do a lot of baking, mainly because the side effect is not very good for you.

I'd like to think little miracles do happen in 'Angel Cake.'

Most of the career choices I've made have been because of my family.

An 'Ordinary Woman' is the beautiful and achingly poignant portrait of Gwen, a complex and troubled woman in her middle years.

I am a stickler for damn good writing.

I don't watch anything I'm in. I'm too critical.

I took 18 months away to have my son, Joseph, and it was the biggest break I'd ever had in my working life of nearly 20 years.

I never feel proud of anything I do really.