RACHEL WEISZ

I love the way girls in London dress; it's so different to the American 'blow-dry and immaculate grooming' thing.

You would never say to a man, 'do you like playing strong men?' You just wouldn't say that.

Botox should be banned for actors, as steroids are for sportsmen. Acting is all about expression; why would you want to iron out a frown?

I'm slightly unsure as to what my goal is. I just keep doing jobs.

The older you get the more capable you get at managing life.

Oh yah, I'm definitely an old rocker.

When people think of performing they usually think of show-offs, but I think of it more that you disappear into somebody else.

I haven't only been offered Hasidic roles.

I've always been fascinated by activists, people who will devote their life to a cause, people who go to India and to Africa and put their life in jeopardy to do what they believe is right.

My real fantasy if I was to drop out would be to live in a mobile home and be a hippie and drive around festivals and have millions of children - children with dreadlocks and nose rings - and play the flute.

You get perspective on things when you're away from your child, and in a way, your love for them becomes even deeper.

I don't believe your soul mate has to share your politics.

As a child I was the best tree climber in our neighbourhood, I was like a little monkey. I've never been afraid of hurting myself or a little physical discomfort.

I feel like I'm one of the many working mothers. And I only have one child. I know working mums who have three or four. It's definitely a challenge but it's a wonderful challenge to be able to do both.

I have absolutely no empathy for camels. I didn't care for being abused in the Middle East by those horrible, horrible, horrible creatures. They don't like people. It's not at all like the relationship between horses and humans.

Often Hollywood crews go into third world countries and I don't believe they behave well.

I don't think balance is something you get from someone else; it's something women have to find from within. For me, finding balance is still a work in progress.

I think there are two aspects to ageing: there's the physical side and what's happening inside.

There's not much room for eccentricity in Hollywood, and eccentricity is what's sexy in people.

If I went out in killer heels and full makeup, blow dry, the whole thing - anyone dressed up like that could be intimidating to men and women, really. It's so, look at me. Do you know what I mean? But I love women.

I moved to New York last year and I love it. It's a huge change and I've always wanted to spend time there. It's like a more intense London, and everything's up a few notches. The lights are brighter, the pace is faster and the food's better.

I didn't think the teachers had the right to tell me what to do. I would just disobey, talk in the classroom, get very bad grades.

In real life, I'm polite and nice all the time. It's fun to play people who aren't. It's escapism.

The happiest days of my youth were when my brother and I would run through the woods and feel quite safe.

I always do my interviews face to face.