As the only girl growing up among three brothers I was always afraid of being excluded. If there was a game to be played a sport to be learned a competition to join I was on my feet and ready. I didn't spend much time alone for fear that I'd miss out.

The biggest opportunity in 2013 is in Africa. It has seven out of the ten fastest-growing economies in the world. In Nigeria alone there are 100 million people with mobile phones. In total 300 million Africans - five times the population of Britain - are in the middle class.

I would point out that I'm an actress for a reason! If I were popular in high school I would have considered another career because I wouldn't have been alone in my room making up other characters for myself. I definitely had growing pains. The popular kids didn't want anything to do with the girl who was starting the drama club.

One of the places where we lived when I was growing up had this big wood out the back. And starting when I was about 8 I used to enjoy just walking alone through the wood late. Eleven p.m. Midnight. Later.

For me growing up the downside of it was that as a kid you don't want to stand out. You don't want to have a famous father let alone get a job because of your famous father you know? But I'm a product of nepotism. That's how I got my foot in the door through my dad.

To be perfectly honest I think that as I'm growing older I'm just growing more impatient. I'll be very happy if at some point people say 'Michael's grown wiser and softer in his old age.' But we'll have to wait and see what my next project is.

Despite what anti-aging ads say growing older can be better. I feel better in my skin 100 percent. You have greater effects of gravity but the better sense of yourself you have is something I wouldn't trade. Women who lie about their age - 'why?'

Growing up on stage I was introduced to makeup at a young age and I will never forget the first time I tried on a L'Oreal Paris iconic lipstick - it was instant glamour and I've been hooked ever since.

I began to speak well at a very advanced age - 15 16 17 years old. It was psychological: the trauma of war my family and growing up on my own. I was more or less a street kid.

I love physical kinds of comedy and getting down and dirty and doing stunts. When I was growing up I was always getting into fights with guys and usually punching out boys my age because I was a lot bigger and tougher. So I'm naturally accustomed to putting myself into the headspace of a girl who can take care of herself.