Quotes from Maxine Peake

People will always respond to high-class drama.

I think, as a woman, you've got to make so many sacrifices.

As a human, if you're in a scary situation, you pretty much forget about everything else! You just try and survive.

We take things at face value, don't we? You form an opinion about something immediately, but you ought to step back a bit. Take in the vista first.

I'd rather go down with an almighty bang than play it safe.

Pay in the acting world hasn't kept up with inflation.

It's interesting when people say, 'You always play strong women,' because as far as I'm concerned, women are strong. I think that's what women are. We have got that vulnerability, but we have got that strength. We are survivors.

I am an actor. I love acting, and I absolutely love what I do, but I don't want it to be every waking hour.

I didn't have my first serious boyfriend until I was 23. Then after that, I went out with a guy I'd been best friends with all through drama school.

My favourite outfit is a giant bunny suit. I wore it in a music video for 'Are You One?' by the Chanteuse & the Crippled Claw and got to keep it.

I went to the Old Bailey, and I met a judge, and I was petrified, but they were like, 'Oh, you're an actor, well, great.' It was a bit like we're cut from the same cloth a little bit.

I watch 'Take Me Out' mainly for Paddy McGuinness. When we were younger, we worked together as lifeguards at the Bolton Leisure Centre.

Music is a huge inspiration to my style. I first got into it when I was 10: the new wave mod scene.

I used to think the store detective had followed me all the way home and would knock on the door and go, 'Hello, is this your daughter? She's got three blue lipsticks and a moisturiser from Boots in her bag.' We just used to nick crap. Not even stuff we wanted.

I think all things are political... How women are portrayed - that's a big thing for me. What is this role trying to say about women? Is this woman weak or victimised, and, if so, do we get to understand why?

I think an actor's process should be very personal and private, and sometimes I have thought, 'Oh, please, put it away now.'

I actually used to compete at show-jumping when I was a young'un.

I love 'Splash!' and 'Take Me Out.' Not that I'd ever do 'Splash!' It's the parading on British TV in a swimming costume I couldn't handle.

If I dress up, I try to wear something that's still a bit me, but then I regret it when I see that everyone else has dressed up more and looks amazing.

The first posh meal out I had was on my 10th birthday.

I think you can tell a lot by someone's footwear - cowboy boots would put me off, as would a man in Ugg boots or Crocs.

I've always had pop-star crushes. I had a huge crush on Ian Brown.

I get very irate with actors when they talk about how distressing it all is. I mean, it's only acting. Please.

Sometimes the darker the work, the more fun you can have.