Twenty or 30 years ago, certainly when my mother was my age, I'm sure she felt things were pretty over for her. You had your kids when you were 20. You brought them up. They left home. Then what do you do? While I feel genuinely optimistic. Well, I have no other choice.

The very nature of acting is one minute you're up and the next you're down; one minute you're in favour and the next you're forgotten. You go away and you come back again.

I know that people in the public eye are always being chipped away at by very cynical attitudes in the press.

I'm not a religious person at all.

I was a product of the late '70s and early '80s, so when we think of how we're so protective of our kids now, it's sad in a way. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we limit the development of our kids in a way.

I just really wish I'd met my grandfather.

The thing that strikes a chord with me... as a mother... is to think of my 17-year-old son fighting would be just terrifying.

When growing up, there were never any conversations about the past, because if you don't ask the questions, you never get the answers.

My Irish identity is important as it's a part of who I am.

I used to be nervous about not working and so would work for the sake of it.

I think if you contribute to a job, and it's repeated and repeated, and sold over the world, and the producers are making millions, you should benefit from it.

I really want to get into feature films.

Los Angeles is not going to be a big naive step for me. I know it's tough out there, but I do think there's a place for Irish actors in that market.

A lot of first-time mothers worry about how they will cope. But I'm more patient than I thought I would be even though there are good days and bad days.

At first I didn't want to get involved with another actor. But Rupert is a lovely man who is clearly a great dad.

I actually thought it was quite nice to feel that I could legitimately take up extra space and not have to apologise for doing so. It goes with the territory and I think you have to embrace your pregnancy otherwise you risk having a terrible time.

There is a wealth of fabulous actresses in England.

I moved to London when I was 18 to develop my acting career, but I still love going home to Ireland to recharge my batteries.

When I was about nine, I was rushed to hospital to have my appendix removed. Like any child, I was more concerned about missing out on having fun with my friends than my health.

As a chind in Dublin, I can remember having my plate piled high with four or five vegetables - and I'm convinced to this day that my mother's home cooking helped to ward off illness.

I mean, the human race wouldn't continue if anyone told you how hard it is having kids, would it?

I can be a totally different person from one day to the next, so it is difficult for me to stay in one role over a prolonged period.

I am quite a mercurial person.

I think I've got some actor's form of ADHD. I just can't do the same thing day in, day out.