Julie Walters

“The characters do have a life of their own; it's weird.”

“It's getting better but men still earn more and there are more jobs for them. Ageism is a big thing. Parts for women disappear as you get older.”

“It's getting better generally, daily, especially in TV, for women in acting; and age and looks count less. As more women come into the business. Change of any sort takes a long time to happen.”

“There were all us baby boomers who had a grammar school education, started to learn, then went on the pill, the whole thing, and so there are today a lot more women writers, editors, producers, and so a lot more women's stories. God, the BBC's practically run by women.”

“Along the way I have been able to choose some themes which ask questions - not necessarily force a message on anyone, but at least invite the audience to question things: jury service, dignity in dying, Ireland - and not least because they force me to ask myself questions. Where do I stand?”

“As soon as I gave birth, it was as if you understand them. They become people, not kids. You start to identify with them. You see yourself in them.”

“It's very strong after the birth. It's extraordinary. You can't watch anything to do with kids being harmed.”

“My mother was born on a tiny farm in County Mayo. She was meant to stay at home and look after the farm while her brother and sister got an education. However, she came to England on a visit and never went back.”

“I keep seeing myself in my daughter, and I see my mother in me and in her. Bloody hell.”

“I'd love to be in another film, but they haven't asked me. I think it's a shame but the prospects of me doing another one now are remote. Please do campaign on my behalf.”

“I'd like to think there'll be too much of real life going on for me to want to do much acting.”

“I always loved my mother, felt loved, but she was judgmental. Her father in Ireland didn't approve of women generally, and she took on his values. She believed her own mother was foolish.”

“I never wanted to become an actress because I'd read great literature or seen great Shakespeare. It was more just wanting to understand what the people were really like, why they said all the strange things they did.”

“It seems that when you get to a certain age you almost give yourself permission to misbehave and say what you think. People allow it, with very old people.”