Dawn French

Evolving into a middle-aged person is quite interesting if we can understand what it means. I would like to think it meant being a bit sure of what I want.

I have turned away from the thought of writing fiction in the past through what I suppose is, actually, fear. The direct, raw invitation for the reader to come in and explore my imagination is fairly scary for me so I have busied myself with so much else.

I know what it's like to struggle for cash. When I went to drama school, I worked as a chambermaid to make ends meet.

I'll always be a fat girl and I am happy with that.

My daughter couldn't care less about me being famous. She finds it revolting and, like a lot of teenagers, is virtually allergic to me. That started at 12 and hasn't gone anywhere yet.

I've chosen to stay in a jolly place for most of my life, and that is a lot of who I am.

I'm constantly astounded by how amazing women are. And as we go through all these different stages of life as long as you share them with others and say, 'Well, this is bloody weird', you can get through everything.

Young people need their own private places which mothers don't belong to, even if they want mother all around the edge of that.

I think of myself now as a writer, although I wouldn't go as far as to say 'novelist' because that sounds like a Victorian person.

Turning 50 can be difficult, sometimes dangerous, for women. The danger is in that blip that can come from the fact that you become invisible, and if you're not careful and don't embrace that, it can trip you up and you lose confidence.

That's the weird thing about not being married - you can't get regular kissing; you can't be guaranteed of it, and that's a great shame.

My best friend is the most important girl, outside of family, to me. I met her when I went to college and we bonded immediately. I'd do anything for her at any time. We phone each other every day.

Any people whose lives are about the way they look, whether it's fat or thin, are in a dangerous area.

I love it when somebody makes me laugh - it's what attracts me to people.

I haven't really ever had to audition for anything.

I keep my own personality in a cupboard under the stairs at home so that no one else can see it or nick it.

I'd like to play a horse, many people think I already have. Either end of the horse would be fine.

I want to do something where I play Judi Dench's younger sister or daughter.

Turn up your radio. Watch lots of telly and eat loads of choc. Feel guilty. Stay up all night. Learn everything in six hours that has taken you two years to compile. That's how I did it.

We have to do a film parody for Comic Relief. We can't decide which film to parody at the moment. Any ideas welcome, but not Spiderman owing to costume being too tight.