Quotes

I've no desire to be a star. I see how hard it is, how cruel it is; how to be in that place you have to expose yourself, and how relentlessly cruel that can be to a person.

On not becoming a nurse: "That's still my biggest regret. I wanted that personal contact with people, the one-to-one, the medical expertise. I still do. But Bono's life had taken off in one direction and I realised that if I went into nursing, I was going to have to live-in for four very intensive years. It would have been too much on the relationship. I was always going to end up doing something. I suppose I'd prefer to be wandering up and down some hospital ward handing out medicine, feeling that I was contributing, but I don't have the experience, I don't have the training. I always wanted to be hands-on; it's about showing solidarity, about physically being with the people in some way, spending time with them - almost the same as you'd do as a nurse. And whatever comfort that brings them, then that's what it's about for me. It's the way I operate."

On studying sociology and politics: "I wanted to do something that would give me an understanding of social policy and help me effect change in that area, something that was akin to nursing."

On her car of choice: "I've always driven Golfs; this one runs really well. I know there are people who see their car as an extension of themselves; they need a car that says a lot about them. But I don't need a car to confirm my personality. I think this one says a lot about me.

The whole point of your life, I think, is to give some chance to even one person. I don't want to end my life feeling I've only looked after myself, that everything I did was to protect myself. I want when I die to believe that I've achieved what I was supposed to achieve - that is, to help other people in whatever way I could.