Quotes from Sophie Ellis-Bextor

I'd never really thought about it before, but now you ask I can see that how my parents handled money definitely affected my relationship with it.

Yeah, I'm not really a morning person.

On my wedding day. I didn't want a natural, blushing-bride look - I had a full-on hairdo and red lips. I thought it would be disingenuous to do the whole virginal look, so even though I had the white dress, I had pink net underneath.

I'm a sucker for sad disco pop.

I get really frustrated if people don't smile.

Come rain or shine I walk short distances rather than taking my car.

I don't think writing or co-writing my songs makes me a better singer, but I haven't really got an excuse not to do it as I've got too many opinions!

It's hard to feel comfortable in your own skin when you're younger.

My rule for the corporate stuff is the same as with my music - I do whatever means I can sleep at night and whatever means I can be dignified.

I get really frustrated if people don't smile.

Not all my shoes are designer. In terms of clothes, everything is on the same level for me. If I like it, it doesn't matter if it cost £200 or £2. I'm attracted to things rather than labels.

Trust your instincts: they tend to see you right. By listening to them, at least you can sleep at night.

The NHS is a bit iffy when you sprain an ankle, but when it's a high-priority issue, it's fantastic. They don't mess about. They're incredibly efficient when things go wrong.

In terms of influence, my style icons have been a mixture of Julie Andrews and Olivia Newton-John. When I was little I used to watch 'Grease,' 'Mary Poppins' and 'The Sound of Music' a lot. If you put all those things together you do kind of get my outfits. A slightly tarty nanny in a second-hand outfit. That is pretty much what I wear.

I've been DJing a little bit, so you get used to the fact that music sounds brilliant when it's loud.

My parents are good role models because they've worked hard and gave me a happy childhood.

I'm happy that I have a look, but I don't over-analyse whether or not it's beautiful or ugly.

Like my mum, I sometimes buy things I shouldn't and fill my house with rubbish.

I started my music career at 18 and for a long while I let other people handle my affairs.

I learned to stand up for myself at school where I was never too popular.

I wrote the worst novel ever.

Two premature babies was not a genetic thing; we were just unlucky.

A lot of what inspired many musicians is celebrating differences, and people relate to that - more people feel like the unpopular, freaky one than the one in the in-crowd.

I'm always sticking up for other people.