When I was 18 I went to college for two years and didn't work for a year which was essential for me, because my identity had been so influenced by my being an actor and I think I just needed to discover what it was to be myself, divorced from all that responsibility.
When I left university, I didn't want to jump into anything right away. Music certainly wasn't a burning ambition.
People talk about retiring. I never said that r-word. People though I went away after the Olympic Games. I took time off to do something I've always wanted to be - a mother.
When I was 19 and dropped out of college for several months, I lived for some time with my grandmother.
I did not work for a year after 'Margarita With a Straw'.
I think in terms of me shying away from modelling, I would like to clarify in some way that I was taking a break from many things in my life and obviously what people in the public see is that I'm pulling away from what is more public.
I have done fewer films than I should have. No regrets. I wanted to be at home.
I love making music. That's what I love to do. So I don't feel like there's any need to take a break unless I want to.
I wish I could be more carefree. I grew up fast.
After 'Return Of The Bumpasaurus' in '96, I just got away from music for, like, a year. Literally, I think I produced two songs in a year. I was totally kicking it, running around.
As a professional player, I consider my career closed, but I don't want to exclude the possibility in the future that I may return, but not as a player.
I don't ever enjoy time away from the game. But it does make you appreciate what you have.
The whole first year of my career was a public vote. I know exactly where I've come from and the public played a massive part and I'll never forget that, but I shouldn't have to explain to anyone I need a break.
Sometimes it gets a little uncomfortable to not do everything. That was my modus operandi for many years, but I just feel like I want to do challenging roles.
I work hard but I play hard.
What I do regret is working too hard sometimes instead of really enjoying my youth. I'm trying to make an effort to stop and smell the roses now.
Actually, I only left twice. I left then, and then rejoined literally two years later for Going For The One.
The thing is, it was never a decision for me to never return to acting.
I'm not semi-retired, I'm just taking it easy.
We take off sometimes for impromptu vacations the moment Mahesh is free, and I join him even if I have work.
I was going to finish my university degree after finishing 'The Tailors,' but 'Pinocchio' made me to take another semester off.
Some people manage to make that transition from child actor to adult actor seamlessly. But I felt that if I spent my whole life on a film set without taking a few years to do something else, all I would ever know about was film sets.
It wasn't that I left acting; it's just that I put it aside while I set about becoming a comic.
Everybody else does work - I have too much fun.
After the 'Last Waltz' concert, it just seemed very healthy to me to put making a record as far out of my mind as I possibly could.
