First and foremost I'm a feminist. And basically that stems from a strong belief that all people and creatures deserve equal opportunity rights and respect.

Basically fundamentalism is a modern phenomenon. In the same way that Hitler evoked a mythological religion of German purity and the glory of the past the Islamists use religion to evoke emotions and passions in people who have been oppressed for a long time in order to reach their purpose.

So basically my view is I don't want to support the exploitation of animals and within reason I will do what I can to avoid it but it's not like it's a religion for me. It's not like I consider I'm polluted if somehow some bit of milk or cheese or something passes my lips.

It's interesting now that basically a CG set is the same cost as a real set. So like if you're going to build a CG house in the suburbs it costs you $200 000. And if you were going to build it in a computer it'll cost you $200 000. It's the same... the relationship is exactly the same.

There are a few writers that one has a relationship with that means basically you do whatever they say. One is Caryl Churchill and the other is David Hare.

My parents had this relationship that was really terrifying. I mean the level of hatred that they had and the level of physical abuse - my mother would beat up my father basically - and I think I was drawn to images on television that were bright and reflective.

I think it's child abuse to have someone in the public eye too young. Society basically values wealth and fame and power at the cost of well-being. In the case of a child it's at the cost of someone's natural development. It's already hard enough to develop.

President Obama has basically avoided or not done any attempt to intervene in any positive way in the housing market. I think in the financial crisis that's been a shame.

With everything that's thrown at you whether it be problems at home problems at work - whatever - basically if you remain positive you can see your way out of that.

On the show we are not trying to get people to eat their vegetables we are not trying to get people to become Democrats. We are basically trying to encourage people to get involved with public life so that politics isn't left to the wealthy and privileged.