Quotes from Kathy Burke

Imagine being the kids that don't get the job - you're just not beautiful enough I'm afraid, my darling, now off you pop and be riddled with insecurities for the rest of your life.

Twenty years ago I brought young, unknown film maker Joe Wright with me to a private show of 'Nil by Mouth.' Gary Oldman asked me if he was any good. I said, 'give it a few years and he'll direct you in a film that will win you an Oscar.'

From a very young age I'd learned to put on a brave face because of losing my mum. I'd always make jokes if anybody tried to throw sympathy at me.

Not having a mum is massive for a young girl really.

I had this laddish way about me, with my deep voice and telling jokes all the time; I was Burkey, the little fella in a skirt.

I can smell trouble miles away.

Audiences don't need to be patronized by being shown in period things how much people smoked.

I could have my hair really short. I didn't have to wear dresses, I could wear baggy old T-shirts and ripped trousers and monkey boots and I was desirable to boys that were into the same stuff.

I'm quite a solitary person. I like being on my own.

I didn't want to go anywhere because I hated being a woman during my menopause. I was like 'why am I a woman?' I couldn't bear it.

Your average director will be content with something that comes across as truthful, but we know, as fellow actors, that that's not great for a performer. They have to feel that what they're conveying is honest.

I didn't really feel like a girly girl. I didn't want to wear boob tubes and flared trousers and disco clothes. Then when punk came along it was like, 'Oh great, I can wear ripped jeans and manky t-shirts and flat caps.' It was just perfect timing for me.

I used to be terribly aggressive in my twenties.

I look at myself in the mirror and think I'm gorgeous.

I went through moody broody... well, I met one person and I thought 'if I am going to have a child with anybody it is going to be with this guy. Anyway it didn't happen because he had a girlfriend and I tried not to sleep with people if they had girlfriends.

I've never been motivated by the money, always by the work.

I thought, 'Could I ever call myself ugly as a character?' And it was like, 'Yeah, I'd love to be able to say stuff like that.'

In fact, I didn't realize I was 'unattractive' - in inverted commas - until I started acting. It was, 'Oh no, you're not right for the part - we're looking for a pretty girl.'

I must be the only actress in history who has been asked to be naked for untitillating reasons.

I'm quite a cantankerous soul. People have this impression that I have a happy disposition. But I'm dark and cynical underneath.

I needed a check-up from the neck up.

It's good to try new things when you're a groovy oldie.

I love stay-at-home dads. I think that is so brilliant. If I knew in my 20s you could... meet someone and have kids and he would be happy to be the one the bringing up the children maybe I would have done it.

The stereotype is that if a woman doesn't have children she doesn't like children. I really love kids.