Quotes

[on her career] I'm the sort of person who really takes it as it comes. If it comes nicely, then that's lovely; if it doesn't, then it doesn't. If I don't get work then I sort of think about doing something else. Of course it's getting better and it's lovely.

I think women are just as capable of ruling people and looking after our affairs as men are. Sometimes possibly better because women have a level of sensibility and sensitivity as well, which possibly men don't sometimes.

[on same sex relationships] With homosexuality and lesbianism, I just don't think you can put a ban on it, I don't think you can say it's wrong. I think people should live how they want to live. I don't think it should be illegal.

[on her marriage to Peter Sellers] I was his mother, his sister, his daughter, his lover, his wife and he became for me my father, my lover, my friend.

[on how she got into acting] I was sitting in my class at school a few days later struggling with my Latin exercises, when I was told I was wanted urgently on the telephone. I went to take the call and was told by my mother and Mrs. Malone that the part was mine if I wanted it and I had two hours in which to decide! It was all up to me. I had to choose whether to forsake my exams, which were coming along, and do the film, probably taking up acting as a career, even though I originally wanted to be a teacher, or forget the picture and concentrate on my studies. When the bell rang for the final period, I had made up my mind to take the opportunity and accept the role.

[on being cast in her debut film, No Blade of Grass (1970)] I still can't quite believe what's happened. I never acted professionally before in my life, so I'm very lucky to have been given the role.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

When I married Peter [Sellers], I decided to give up my career as an actress and be totally devoted to him. I was the loving wife always at home. He liked it, and was totally agreeable to the idea at the time. But then I began to get fidgety and restless. I'm just waiting for the right part to come, I want to do some acting.

Anyone would be rather proud of having saved a ... friend or acquaintance.

[on her acting career aspirations] I'd like to go as far as possible, really. I'd like it to be...let's be honest, I'd like to be a star but in the nicest way. I wouldn't want to be a star who is temperamental; I wouldn't like to be a star with inverted commas, which automatically means you have to be boring and late and awful and temperamental and rude and lose all the softness. I want to remain very much like I am. I don't want to get big-headed and difficult.

[on making historical drama films] Reality is often more difficult to recreate than fiction.

[on her refusal to write a 'tell-all' book about her relationship with Peter Sellers] I have been asked to name my price to talk about Peter and me, but I told them all that no amount could buy my story. It's a terribly private thing - there's not enough money to make me reveal those secrets.

[on religion and the reaction to the progressive Roman priest's response of the Pope declaring premarital sex a sin.] I really agree with the other priests that it should have never been issued. I think that does put the Church back; I really do. I can say it because I'm not particularly religious. But I think people who are religious, I hope they would feel that it's not a step forward. I think premarital sex is a good idea. I think the worst thing that could possibly happen is to not have sex before you get married, then get married and find out its dreadful.

[when she tried on Janet Suzman's Alexandra costume for the film, Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)] I feel myself no longer a mere Grand Duchess, but Tsarina herself.

[on being blacklisted by Hollywood and losing her career] I guess I smashed the vase in which the roses of my life once stood. But I can still smell the scent.