Maxine Peake

The women I play don't sit in the corner eating lettuce leaves and talking about what designer shoes they have.

When I was a little girl, there was this unbelievably cool female bus driver who'd work near us. I remember thinking I'd like to be her when I grew up.

Everybody's in a situation; everybody has a story. It's about finding out why.

Food is important in working out a character. How she eats is a window into her temperament. If I think she likes her food, I'll put on a few pounds, or lose a few if she lives on her nerves.

It's great having time to just sit back and work through things in my mind. It helps put life into perspective.

We need a wider sense of community because we're all on the same planet.

I'm a big techphobe. Someone else helps me run my Twitter; I wouldn't be able to trust myself.

If I were to appear in a programme like 'Sex and the City,' I'm sure I'd be cast as the downtrodden one staying at home and having seven children while the others jet-setted around the world.

We shouldn't still be asking, 'Have you got children? Why've you not got children? Ooh, you must have children!' Bog off, d'you know what I mean?

Generally, I am losing faith in telly, as we do have good dramas but not as many as there should be.

It's interesting when people say, 'You always play strong women,' because as far as I'm concerned, women are strong. I think that's what women are. We have got that vulnerability, but we have got that strength. We are survivors.

I take bits and pieces from everything. But I think the Method can be very isolating, and sometimes it's more about ego than playing the character truthfully.