“I am very career minded, and I think my personality is more suited to America. I am a working mum.”

I’m a very, very healthy eater. I eat lots of fish, lots of vegetables, lots of fruit. I don’t eat junk food.

You have to remember that when you are a performer you become a celebrity, but you are not saving lives. It’s not that important.

I think the sexiest thing about a woman is confidence, but confidence in a humble way, not in an arrogant way.

I don’t wear heels every day, but when I’m out, that’s how I feel confident.

Before I became famous I used to think there’s no smoke without fire. But believe me, there can be a fire without smoke.

When you’re in a position to be paparazzi-ed just walking down the street, you’d look a little daft if you were smiling all the time.

I have started smiling! I’ve mastered this smirk; it’s a smile that isn’t a smile.

The older you get, the more comfortable you become with yourself, and you accept what you have physically.

I’m very realistic. I know my boundaries – I know what I’m good at and what I’m not good at.

I can live with my own mistakes. I can’t live with anybody else’s.

Wearing short skirts while dancing to a manic routine without showing your knickers or looking indecent is a talent, as far as I’m concerned.

Fame is not like a jacket. You can’t put it on and then take it off.

I’m not shy about asking the customer, because I want to talk about who she is and what she wants from me.

If in doubt, anything looks good with a white shirt.

I love fashion, and that’s how I express myself.

I dress sexily – but not in an obvious way. Sexy in a virginal way.

I went to business school, and I went straight from that to a nine-year career at Microsoft. Eventually, I ran a big chunk of the consumer products division for Microsoft.Then I left with the birth of our first daughter because Bill and I both wanted to have a few kids.

At the very worst, if I have a short-lived career, at least I could say I sparked a change – that I inspired some leniency in what people accept in hip-hop. And if I have a very long career and can be gyrating in a leotard at 35, that would be great.

I’m a civic busybody and I’ve been blessed with an active career.

In my entire career, I’ve never cried, consistently, through a movie, ever.

Three rules for a career: 1) Don’t sell anything you wouldn’t buy yourself; 2) Don’t work for anyone you don’t respect and admire; and 3) Work only with people you enjoy.

I should think that being my old lady would be all the satisfaction or career any woman needs.

[Meeting Mandela] was the highlight of my career; to meet such a great man and a strong man and such a passionate man about sport and life will always stay with me.

I don’t want to be an action star, an action star’s life is so short. I want my life to get longer, I want my career to get longer.