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

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 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’.

I feel very strongly that curves are natural, womanly and real. I shall continue to hope that women are able to believe in themselves for who they are inside, and not feel under such incredible pressure to be unnaturally thin.

We live in a world where not everyone has the urge to help others. It is OK to encourage others to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, but if you do, just remember that some people have no boots.

I don’t want people to say, ‘Something is true because Tyson says it is true.’ That’s not critical thinking.

I don’t want to preach, and I don’t want to tell people what to do.

You get older. You start having hopes for other people rather than yourself.

It’s a great comfort to some people to groan over their imaginary ills.

Young people, I want to beg of you always keep your eyes open to what Mother Nature has to teach you. By so doing you will learn many valuable things every day of your life.

As a writer, I’m more interested in what people tell themselves happened rather than what actually happened.

There are many people of color who are very talented.