The 5-minute Interview: Patricia Hodge, Actress

'It's important to work from the heart, not expediency'

Patricia Hodge, 61, has starred in a host of acclaimed productions including 'The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie', Trevor Nunn's 'Money/ Summerfolk', and Ian Curteis's television drama 'The Falklands Play', in which she played Margaret Thatcher. She is currently appearing in William Wycherley's 'The Country Wife' at the Theatre Royal in London.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be ...

Drying my hair. I have to have it set for the play. I've been sitting under a dryer for 45 minutes.

A common misperception of me is ...

People say I'm cool, in control.

I wish people would take more notice of ...

The fact that London's riverside has been neglected. We're building offices when we should be building residences.

A phrase I use too often ...

"As you and I know." It's an excuse for saying "perhaps this is obvious but..."

The most surprising thing to happen to me was ...

Having one child and then a second. I had them so late. I waited 13 years.

I am not a politician but ...

It's important to work from the heart, not from expediency.

I'm good at ...

I'd hate to even begin to say what I'm very good at. I hope I'm good at listening.

I'm very bad at ...

Being economical with food. I wish I could just open the fridge and see what I've got and concoct something wonderful.

The ideal night out is ...

A really terrific evening at the theatre and dinner after, probably with my boys. They are 18 and 15. I try to take them to things that will open their eyes.

In weak moments I ...

Buy something in a rush of hedonism.

You know me as an actress but in another life I'd have been ...

I have occasionally romanced with the idea of having a hotel.

The best age to be is ...

The age you're at. But I would say that my 30s and early 40s were my best years.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this ...

Carpe diem (seize the day).

Alice-Azania Jarvis