I know there are lots of regional accents in England, but I can't tell them apart and I'm not really aware of class. I don't pay any attention to those boundaries. I'm a California girl. Danielle de Niese More Quotes by Danielle de Niese More Quotes From Danielle de Niese I have to take care of myself. It's about self-preservation. Danielle de Niese about myself take-care care From my perspective, music allows me to escape from the world of what is happening right in front of me... to the world of my thoughts, my dreams, my hopes and ideas - for the world, for my own life, for the day, even for the moment. Danielle de Niese dreams day music life I'm a huge dog person; I love to hug and kiss them. Danielle de Niese kiss hug dog love One of my favourite books of all time: 'The Great Gatsby'. I just think it's so well written. Danielle de Niese just great think time I got into singing when I was 6. Danielle de Niese got singing Music can be a source of escapism. Danielle de Niese escapism source music I spent my first 10 years in the Commonwealth. I come from cricket, crumpets, cucumber sandwiches, the Queen. Danielle de Niese queen first cricket years What I see as specially English is the charm - everyone is so polite. Being restrained is part of the charm. And I love the sense of humour - it takes me back to Australia. The English are great at making fun of themselves. They're so self-effacing. Danielle de Niese great me fun love I think of myself as an Olympian. I have had a dream since I was a very small child. And because I have parents without whom I couldn't have realised that dream. Danielle de Niese parents child myself think To be a famously successful opera singer. I wanted that since I was eight. Danielle de Niese singer opera eight successful I sang with a voice that was natural, and I liked the way I produced that sound. I thought of my other friends, that they were singing and dancing, but they didn't have this. I was special. Danielle de Niese friends singing voice way My parents kept me very grounded. Danielle de Niese parents very me grounded My Mozart career began as a teenager in Los Angeles, singing arias from 'Le Nozze di Figaro' and 'Don Giovanni.' Danielle de Niese began career los-angeles singing Mozart is my first strength. Danielle de Niese mozart first strength One of the things I loved about my childhood was that I didn't feel like I lost my innocence too young, like some children these days. Danielle de Niese loved feel childhood children I believed in Santa Claus until I was 12! Danielle de Niese until believed santa-claus santa In a fit at the bookstore one day, I bought all my favourite composers' biographies: Schubert, Massenet, Wolf. I've still not had a chance to read them; it breaks my heart. But when you travel so much, you just can't take that many books with you. Danielle de Niese day you heart travel My dad's in banking, my mum manages the American branch of a Swiss vitamin company; they're really busy, but they still come to all my premieres. Danielle de Niese american company dad busy My mother actually does most of my shopping for me. I love fashion, but I don't really love shopping. Danielle de Niese me fashion mother love I've always been a bit dressed up, even on casual days. I suppose that's the performer in me. Danielle de Niese dressed me always casual