"'Stress' was the catch-all every pamper-pedlar I spoke to used to explain why healthy women feel the need to be regularly patted, petted and preened into a state of babyish beatification."

"A good part - and definitely the most fun part - of being a feminist is about frightening men."

"No matter how old and glorious the models, sad indeed is the woman who sees fashion as a means of self-expression rather than an agent of social control."

"I've never been nostalgic, personally or politically - if the past was so great, how come it's history?"

"You women could make someone fall in love even with a lie."

"I did 'Little Dorrit' a few years ago; I really love doing period dramas. It's stuff like that I really enjoy watching."

"I'd kiss a frog even if there was no promise of a Prince Charming popping out of it. I love frogs."

"Great love affairs start with Champagne and end with tisane."