When I was growing up, I'd be in the choir. My mum was the organist in the church, so I'd sing in the church.

I always felt that the music sells by itself. The music has always been the successful aspect on my career, and that means that, to me, I can always still stay very focused on music.

It's very homely, this castle. It doesn't have huge ballrooms. I didn't want a cold, cavernous place.

I do promotion when it is necessary, but I always want to get back to the music.

Whatever the reasons, would-be entrepreneurs should be forewarned. Going into business for yourself isn't just risky because your business might fail. It's risky because you might have a harder time getting a job in the future, even if you succeed with your company.

The English Patient' was a huge turning point in my career and my life; it became this huge thing. But the whole Oscar build-up got completely out of control; I spent more time talking about that film than I spent making it!

It's a daily struggle for me to stay alive. I don't mean to be melodramatic, hyperbolic, or go into my broadcast mode. But even that, my career is bipolar.

There was a time in my career when I felt like I wasn't being true to myself. I was being moulded into an artist I wasn't, and I knew I had to do everything I wanted to do. I think that's an issue a lot of women face, and men do have it easier in a lot of ways.