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[on acting] I was fully alive and it frightened me. I was in a tremendous turmoil about it.

There is nothing like that audience response when it's working with you - nothing.

I don't think you can go it alone. There is a positive force for good outside oneself, call it God if you like, that has the strength to turn darkness into light.

When I approach the pearly gates, I'd like to hear a champagne cork popping, an orchestra tuning up, and the sound of my mother laughing.

I just want to do good work with good people in good places. And as for retirement, I can hardly spell the word. I'm driven, really. The demons won't lie down.

People have always pitied spinsters. We have been derided, as if we had missed out on life. Well, we need not miss out on anything today!

[on Alastair Sim] There lives and breathes a comic genius of gargantuan proportions.

[on quitting Keeping Up Appearances (1990)] I decided to part company with Hyacinth because there were other adventures to have. I'm an actor and I like to play other roles.

[on the cancellation of Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1995)] We were betrayed by the BBC. We finished series four of Hetty Wainthropp, we were told there was going to be series five. But no word ever came - how rude! The BBC is run by 10-year-old children.

[on her character Hyacinth Bucket] The basic premise of Hyacinth is pretension and that's the source of so much comedy. While attempting to be a social climber, she also had to deal with members from the other side of her family like Onslow, who sat around in his string vest drinking beer. In a way, the show was a microcosm for society.

[on her damehood] I'm very surprised indeed, but very pleased that the honour pertains to theatre.

I didn't make a decision not to be married and not to be a mother. Life just turned out like that because my involvement in acting was so total.