“I wanted to play incredibly challenging, multifaceted characters. Because we are all a puzzle.”

There’s not an awful lot that embarrasses me. I’m the kind of actress that absolutely believes in exposing myself.

Ultimately, you just have one life. You never know unless you try. And you never get anywhere unless you ask.

Many roads to take some to joy some to heart ache

Life is short, and it is here to be lived.

I do think it’s important for young women to know that magazine covers are retouched. People don’t really look like that.

I look like people that walk down the street. I don’t have perfect boobs, I don’t have zero cellulite – of course I don’t – and I’m curvy. If that is something that makes women feel empowered in any way, that’s great.

I don’t have parts of my body that I hate or would like to trade for somebody else’s or wish I could surgically adjust into some fantasy version of what they are.

I am insecure. If you ask me, everybody is.

I still don’t believe this craziness for being skinny, but I eat sensibly and I don’t stuff down chocolate biscuits.

I was the kid who never won the races. I never jumped the highest. I wasn’t on the list of the high-achieving.

I accept my body. I accept how I am and make the best of what I am given.

Mum and dad were very much friends, and up to life. There was no anxiety for anything when I was growing up, they just taught me to be me.

I’m often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don’t think I’ve actually cried watching myself.

There are moments to indulge and enjoy, but I always know when it’s time to go home and wash my knickers.

Of course I believe in marriage. Commitment to one other person in life is glorious.

Regret isn’t good. Every decision one makes in life is made for a reason or another. Whenever something bad happens, I go, ‘This is happening for a reason’, or, ‘This is going to teach me something’.

Japan is facing an increasingly challenging situation.

That power is found in the people. I am able to overcome any kind of challenge so long as I am working together with the people.

To remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible.

The more you face challenges, the less you fear them.

I love anything that’s a bit of a challenge.

We have to visualize a successful victory before we even start a very difficult challenge.

The duty of youth is to challenge corruption.

I’m making a conscious choice to see challenges as beneficial so that I can deal with them in the most productive way.