I love French films, and European films. They`re not any bigger, but there`s just a sort of definition, and a confidence, and strength to them. I`d always, given the option, go and see a French drama. Obviously, we probably get the better ones. But they`re just sophisticated on many levels, and grown up, and quite profound - and we don`t make films like that.

I always think you should be totally frivolous as much as you can, and then take the work seriously when it has to be taken seriously. As long as you can keep that balance going, it`s good fun. If it`s only frivolous it`s not fun - it would drive me potty. On Iris, I`d never worked with Judi Dench before, but it was wonderful to realize that we worked in exactly the same way. Foolish for most of the time, then focusing on the work, clicking into it very quickly and naturally. There were a lot of laughs. Otherwise it could have been torture. Two months of being grueled.