Sarah Parish quotes:

I'd love to look like my mum when I am her age. She taught ballet for years, and my attitude to exercise and fitness has definitely been influenced by her. She's 84 now, and I've watched how well she has aged, and a lot of that is to do with her fantastic posture.

Plastic surgery can't make you younger or more beautiful, because beauty is in your eyes, isn't it? It's in your soul; you can't strap it on.

My earliest memory is of sitting at Mum's dance school, watching her teach a ballet class.

I'll see a beautiful dress in a shop, and then I'll put it on and it looks dreadful because I'm just too curvy. I have to choose carefully - I steer clear of high necks and go for tailored, fitted things.

Living with fear stops us taking risks, and if you don't go out on the branch, you're never going to get the best fruit.

I think insecurity does drive people. I know it's what drove me to push for the work I've got.

Marriage is hard, and it can be tough when you're both actors.

I hope I'm very similar to my mum because she is a fantastic mother. She was driven as well as being incredibly protective and caring, and I think that is important.

I don't think anyone's life is totally wonderful, however it looks from outside.

The best job was when I was at drama school and I cleaned flats in the Barbican. I loved it. They were spotless anyway, so you'd just watch the telly and flick a duster around.