Growing up, my parents were very much about the Egyptian culture. They never really wanted to assimilate in American culture.

I remember growing up in suburban New Jersey, and all the computer stores were like, 'Motherboard Mayhem' and all these cheesy names.

That's what I did growing up. Other than being on the computer, I was watching TV and movies. I make no apologies.

I was a nerd, growing up, I was really into computers and technology, and most of my friends were basically in that world as well.

Main characters should grow and change during the course of a story.

People expect you to change when you become a mother, and of course my priorities changed when I had Violet. She's number one in my life and the best thing that ever happened to me, but I still have fun. I am still myself, but that is made out to seem like I am rebelling against motherhood.

I think it true that, you know, sometimes things start to change even before a government changes and, actually, I think you can begin to see even the Labour machine beginning to understand that it has become over-reliant on targets and processes, that local governments have been over-bossed and bullied.

I've had the opportunity to work as an actor and tell stories that transform.