DERVLA KIRWAN

David Attenborough's 'Life' series is phenomenal. He's a wonderful modern soothsayer.

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.

I watched 'Lagerfeld Confidential,' which was such an insight into the daily life of a maverick designer.

I am concerned that there's a cavalier attitude to the Irish Peace Process. What poor memories some have; I remember only too well the bag searches, the bomb scares and deaths. As they say, history doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes.

When I look at a magazine and I see Kate Winslet, I will buy it because Kate lends it a sense of achievement: she is brilliant, sexy, a mother.

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

I'm only 5ft 2in so a significant increase in weight is really going to be noticed.

I ate ostrich. I'm not very proud of it. I was going through a very experimental period and probably during foot and mouth. It was exquisite, but I felt very guilty.

The main thing I've done for my children is not to give them a stupid name, like actors do.

I never discuss my troubles in a relationship. It's best to just keep those thoughts to yourself.

I'm obviously slightly ill, because there is a burning desire to be perfect in me. It's probably the Catholic, or the ex-Catholic in me.

A lot of actresses say they are 24 when they are 34 but I find that ridiculous. I wish we didn't succumb to the youth-is-all ideology in this industry, because there is a huge audience out there who want to relate to characters of their own age played by actors of their own age.

I really want to work with Mike Leigh.

Since I was 15 I've lived in fear that I'd never work again.

I didn't grow up reading magazines; I was very much in an environment where that would have been deemed trivial, frivolous.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) runs in my family, as do other mental health problems.

I've been very lucky with having a run of working with very special people and it just makes you work harder.

Growing up, I wanted blond hair.

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

I just love being in the middle of nowhere.

Ballykissangel' made me a household name, and I am enormously grateful for that, but I don't feel it would ever have developed me into a better actress had I stayed.

I don't want to be known as 'oh, Dervla, when she's on stage she's very good but she's terribly dreary', or 'another heavy night with Kirwan.'

There's still, dare I say it, a cultural propaganda against the Irish, that we are, as women, 'feisty.' I hate that word.

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.