When I landed the role in Soldier Soldier. I thought, “Oh my goodness, I’m going to be doing something that makes me happy, I’m doing it abroad and they’re going to pay me.” I was 26.

But the years 1895 to 1900 which are the staple of this story exceed in vividness, variety and exertion anything I have known—except of course the opening months of the Great War. When I look back upon them I cannot but return my sincere thanks to the high gods for the gift of existence. All the days were good and each day better than the other. Ups and downs, risks and journeys, but always the sense of motion, and the illusion of hope.

At the end of each day when I sit with my son and he's tired and I get to cuddle him. Otherwise, it's impossible. Ninjas and dragon hunters don't sit still that often.

Right now. The past has gone.

Always flying: we’ve had flights where the engine’s been on fire; where we’ve nose-dived.

Persevering with a career that was predicted to last six months and still being here four decades later.

I am a bit of a procrastinator.

When a relationship I’ve been invested in stops working. And yet, here I am, happy as you like.

Kind, funny, moany – I do love a moan.

I’ve apologised to my son, Thomas, for being absent for quite a lot of his first few years, but, as a working mother and breadwinner, I kind of had to be. I like to think I’ve made up for it.