Quotes

Everything starts in the writing, and getting more and more women's perspective in the writing will have a huge impact on the quality of films we get. At the moment, we don't really see women as we see ourselves and as we really are because it's only men writing for us. I've read a lot of scripts where I've thought: "No women would ever say that! No woman would ever behave like that!" Women are put into these categories of bitch, mother or sex symbol. If we had more women writing we would have a more realistic representation of what it's like to be a woman.

I haven't been directed by a woman. I'd love to be; it would make a big difference. Often as an actress you can feel very alienated, especially if you are playing the female lead in a male-dominated cast and environment. It's very hard to feel relaxed, to feel able to express yourself and to feel that you will be heard in that kind of environment.

Film is such a male-dominated industry. There's a lot of "who you know" in terms of how you get promoted. The whole way the business is constructed means there are just men at every level, which makes it really hard for women to get their feet in the door. Also, the way of working makes it very difficult for women to succeed in the business. It must be incredibly hard if you have children to navigate the hours.

It's business first and foremost in the US, and you're a commodity. But I love their can-do mentality. They enjoy success and all the doors are open, no matter what you look like or where you're from. It's a big, hungry machine that constantly needs new talent to feed it, so everyone gets a chance. I'm sure my career would have petered out if I'd stayed in Britain; there's just not enough work here. On the other hand, I love coming back and being normal.

[on Danny Boyle]: He's the reason, really, that I have the career that I've had because he took a risk on me and gave me Selena in 28 Days Later (2002). He really started my career for me, I'm very grateful to Danny Boyle.

I've always said that I want to base my career choices on portraying positive images of black women, and I thought I never, ever want to play a stereotypical role, because there are enough of them out there. And I've always said I will never play a crack addict.

Cambridge gives you a gravitas in terms of people's perceptions. I'm not saying this is the way things should be, but people do perceive you differently as a result of having gone there. And I think, particularly as a woman in this industry, it helps to have that. People assume, "Oh. She's got a brain.''