What did you want to be when you were growing up?

At the end he asked me if I would like to go into the Army. I thought it would be splendid to command an Army, so I said 'Yes' at once: and immediately I was taken at my word. ... I was told later that he had only come to the conclusion that I was not clever enough to go to the Bar. However that may be, the toy soldiers turned the current of my life.

For me, it was just a thrill. I just remember thinking at that time, this is the sort of thing I would like to do, if I could. I did not come from a family of scientists. My father was a lawyer, my older brother was a lawyer.

A writer. Always.

For a while I wanted to be a policewoman, but I didn’t have five O-levels.

I always wanted to play tennis. Otherwise, I always thought it would be fun to do something in mathematics or physics.

In 1975, I watched the film Stardust, and Adam Faith said, “I supply the birds, the pills and the pot.” And I thought, “I want that.”

An astronaut, a writer, a dancer.

First something medical, then, without any doubt, an artist.

An actor or a nun.

Dancing was in my bones from when I started ballet at two.

Prime minister and brain surgeon.

I wanted to play for Arsenal. When I have a kick-around with my boy, I still feel as if someone’s going to spot me.

When I was about 14 and got my first drum kit, I wanted to be a drummer in a band like the Police.

What I am now, but with a better singing voice.

A pop star: I loved music from a very young age.

I had no idea. When I was a week away from leaving school, a teacher said, “We’ve been talking in the staffroom and we all think you should be an actor.” I thought, “That’s exactly what I want.” The rest is history.

A private detective.

More successful with girls.

A DJ. I still do.

I only ever wanted to be Barbra Streisand. I probably still do.