Quotes

At boarding school I even kept mice in my underclothes drawer. It made me smell most attractive, as you can imagine.

Giraffes are completely tranquil-they have no predators as adults because there's not an animal in the jungle stupid enough to go for them.

Giraffes are fairytale animals, almost heraldic-as if from the land of fables. They have extremely beautiful faces, huge eyes, very sensitive nostrils and Oh, blue tongues!

Hundreds of political prisoners still suffer in Tibetan prisons. Freedom of speech is not allowed in any sense. It is illegal to possess a photo of the Dalai Lama.

I can't see any difference in having your hair dyed, your teeth fixed, your nose done, or your face smoothed out or lifted.

I like to keep up the image of smoking, only because it's getting such a bad press!

When you are in a country where nobody has ever seen television, people look at you with eyes that don't know who you are.

I don't think men are that attracted by glamour. I think women are attracted by glamour. I think men are attracted by a sense of friendship.

I've got lots of good friends. I could have affairs. I can read a book all night, put the cat on the end of the bed. I can pick up my passport and go to France. I don't have to ask anybody.

You have to feel more involved than just writing out a cheque. Charity is almost the wrong word - I think people are beginning to feel more responsible for the world.

"Ayo Gorkhali" (Nepalese: "The Gurkhas are coming") - traditional Nepalese rallying cry to celebrate the UK government's decision to give all Gurkhas who served in UK armed forces the right to live in Britain.

If something went badly wrong, then maybe. I've had collagen to fill out a scar on my chin. I've also used it on deep lines across my forehead - it can stop you looking very worried or very tired, and I don't need that. Hard lines around the mouth, too, you don't need them. Never on the lips, though - I can't think of anything worse.

[on being made a Dame] It was an extraordinary shock. I put my head in my hands and sobbed like a baby. Then I thought, how has this happened? Is it a mistake? I truly was completely thrown by it, and thrilled to bits, and so touched.

At boarding-school my prefect's badge was confiscated after I was caught smoking. How shameful!