Kathy Burke

“I didn't want to work on dry, old plays written by the dry, old dead.”

“I'm quite a cantankerous soul. People have this impression that I have a happy disposition. But I'm dark and cynical underneath.”

“I used to get defensive when people asked me, 'Is it the control that you like about directing?' I used to say, 'No!' But now I'm older, I say, 'Yeah, it absolutely is!'”

“But the more successful I became as an actor, the less control I had. I became more of a puppet, really. It certainly felt like that, at least.”

“I'm happy to be selfish now. That's the beauty of getting older.”

“There's a great difference between innocence and ignorance.”

“My heart's desire was freedom... 400 years ago they'd have burned me as a witch or dunked me like a big biscuit.”

“'Walking and Talking' is my autobiography. It's best to do it that way, rather than spend months writing a book that then ends up in the bargain bucket with all the other idiots' autobiographies.”

“Money really is a dirty word.”

“I'm a Lizzo fan these days. Oh my god. I mean, I wish she'd been around when I was young.”

“The sad thing in this day and age is kids have access to all sorts of horrible stuff on the Internet and they need to be taught the stuff about love and sex.”

“I look at myself in the mirror and think I'm gorgeous.”

“With trans people, I just think you can't help the way you are born, though. You know, it's DNA, it's genetics. I'm just glad people can do things about their own happiness. I think this thought process that they're trying to wipe out women is a bit ridiculous - it's a minority of people.”

“If you were an actress in a film that had been nominated for five Oscars, including one for yourself, you would expect to have scripts landing on the door step.”

“It can be seen as being quite selfish, but I'm very happy to be selfish.”

“I was born to play Miss Grizzlesniff. I've got lots of friends that are little humans who are very excited about me being in 'School Of Roars.'”

“I fell out of love with acting and in love with directing.”

“That's why I won't direct film or telly. I can't do those early mornings anymore. I will only direct theatre because that starts at nine in the morning.”

“Your average director will be content with something that comes across as truthful, but we know, as fellow actors, that that's not great for a performer. They have to feel that what they're conveying is honest.”

“2021 is my 40th year working in the industry and I can't think of a better way to celebrate than directing 'Holding.' It's a beautiful piece of writing with a great story and fantastic, full-bodied characters.”