Years ago, I was trying to get with one of the big agencies and I cobbled together a VHS tape of me in adverts and sobbing in The Bill, and took it United Agents for the attention of Dallas Smith. A week later I went back and said, “Has she looked at the tape?” And they were, like, “Dallas is a he, no he hasn’t and he doesn’t want to,” and handed it back to me.

An earthquake in Peru forced me and a young man into the street, where he had to introduce me to his family at three in the morning.

When I was appointed director of public prosecutions, I had a government car and visited the security services. When I came out, I got into the back of what I thought was my car, but it was somebody’s private car and they told me in no uncertain terms to get out. I had to reverse out with as much dignity as I could, with the head of security services watching.

I’ve shat myself in public three times. It’s never quite as bad as you fear.

In a rehearsal just after graduating from drama college, I say my lines to an older actor. He pauses, turns to the director and says: “I’m sorry, but is she going to do it like that?”

I’m quite scared of bats. I’m just seeing rats with wings – no, thanks.

A business-class flight. Pure indulgence.

Like everything is in high definition, and life is on your side.

Lack of confidence masquerading as perfectionism.

Anyone whose party I said I’d go to and didn’t turn up. I can get quite socially anxious at times.