Samantha Bond

“I always have bananas with me for energy.”

“I've always had this sneaking suspicion that I get a kick out of the insecurity.”

“Something like 'Sex And The City' was insulting - women all clawing on to their youth when there's such ripe territory in honestly exploring women's lives as they get older.”

“When I got on stage, I would have a rush of adrenaline; everybody gets it. Normally after the first night it becomes more controllable, and as long as I could ride the wave, I was still in charge.”

“One of my earliest memories is of being about three and a half, climbing through the legs of a man who I didn't know was the famous actor, Patrick Magee.”

“I think one of the most important things I can give my children is the right to be themselves.”

“It's always been a dream of mine to be Ginger Rogers or Cyd Charisse, and here I am performing alongside Robert Lindsay and being directed by a major Broadway producer. Who said dreams don't come true?”

“I tend to opt for relaxed family holidays when I can.”

“The big thing that Moneypenny changed was the amount of charity work that I was able to be involved with.”

“When women's parts are being written, they are more and more for under 30s who are nubile and beautiful. Actresses over 40 are finding very little happening.”

“The bravest thing I've ever done is fly to New York. I'm simply terrified of aeroplanes - I am the woman you see weeping at the airport.”

“My nickname is Bondy. But not because of the Bond films - it was my surname a long time before I did those.”

“Nobody can prepare you for the loss of a parent.”

“My best friend is my husband.”

“I had absolutely no idea of the scale of its following and the globalness of 'Bond'.”

“Filming is quite exciting because every day is different, but it can involve long hours standing around in chilly locations. Theatre is a very different challenge because every night you're striving to keep it fresh, even though you might have been performing the same play for months.”

“I'm an appalling flyer. I get very tense, although I no longer weep uncontrollably for no reason - I just sob if there's turbulence.”

“I love Manhattan.”

“I adore acting; it's in my blood - quite literally - but I can honestly say the most creative thing in the world for me is being a mother.”

“Sometimes I'll work through the crossword sections of three separate papers.”