Brenda Blethyn

“The academy awards in England; it's a classy affair as well.”

“Everyone the world over talks about British actors and British talent and I think that's because we were trained - until now - in theatre.”

“I think behind closed doors people behave differently no matter what period we're looking at, because people have to stand up straight in public but can slouch behind closed doors - can you...”

“It's the same as any role and I find that you can't lump characters together; because they all have different life experiences, different reasons for being the way they are.”

“Even if I hadn't have been nominated for an Oscar, to have won the Golden Glove was just fantastic.”

“I knew Secrets and Lies was a great film, but I didn't expect it to get the attention it did because none of his other films had and I thought they were just as good.”

“I like the enthusiasm but not the insincerity of Los Angeles.”

“Before every performance, I think I am about to keel over.”

“I've done a lot of costume drama and theatre - the National Theatre and In fact, most of my work at the theatre, at the National Theatre anyway, was period.”

“When I left drama school, there were dozens of rep theatres you could apply to where you got a good training.”

“I hate that people think going to the theatre is a special occasion. I wish people would treat it as normally as going to the cinema.”

“The strange thing is that since I've been offered lots of films I think that maybe they think that I've sold out to Hollywood. Which is not the case if anybody's listening.”