Samantha Bond

When women's parts are being written, they are more and more for under 30s who are nubile and beautiful. Actresses over 40 are finding very little happening.

Downton' is one of the best jobs in the world, and I'm looking forward to the next series for Maggie Smith's wicked sense of humour.

It's always been a dream of mine to be Ginger Rogers or Cyd Charisse, and here I am performing alongside Robert Lindsay and being directed by a major Broadway producer. Who said dreams don't come true?

As a child, I always remember our home, which was a flat just on the Barnes side of Hammersmith Bridge in London, buzzing with actors such as Patrick McGee and Peter Bowles. We were a family who were always on the go.

I tend to opt for relaxed family holidays when I can.

I think one of the most important things I can give my children is the right to be themselves.

My nickname is Bondy. But not because of the Bond films - it was my surname a long time before I did those.

I've been married to the same man - even after the separation - longer than most people in this business. I'm sick to death of people mentioning it.

Sometimes I'll work through the crossword sections of three separate papers.

The big thing that Moneypenny changed was the amount of charity work that I was able to be involved with.

I managed to slip two children out in the middle of my career and have been lucky with all the work.

It's one of the oldest theatrical adages: never work with children or animals.