Period drama is such a huge umbrella term: it seems to cover everything from Claudius to something from the 1920s.

Natasha Little

Categorized in : Everything Something 1920s Drama

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I haven't quite got over the miracle that you plant things, and they do sprout up.

things know you plant

Getting older doesn't bother me. When I was 30, I thought I should have achieved more, but you get more comfortable and think it's time to stop putting pressure on yourself.

yourself me you time

I was told it might be quite difficult to conceive, so it really was a great blessing when my pregnancy suddenly happened. I had been diagnosed years ago with polycystic ovarian syndrome, which can affect your fertility - but luckily, in my case, it didn't.

your great difficult blessing

As an actor, I'm in such a privileged position because my work is job by job. If something doesn't fit in with family life, there's more flexibility.

job family work life

Having my own family has made me realise there's more to life than chasing the next job.

job me family life

I love my work, and I feel fortunate to be doing a job I love, but it isn't the centre of my life.

my-life work love life

Acting was a slow-burn thing. I found it was something I really, really liked doing, but it wasn't until my third year at drama school that I actually thought, 'Oh, right, I'm trained for this now; I'd better see if I can do it.'

better thought i-can school

I wouldn't feel comfortable talking to someone I didn't know very well and, beyond that person, a readership of X millions, about things I think are private.

feel someone think know

I know some people are really comfortable with talking about their feelings and hopes and fears in public, but I'm not, and I don't think it's that extraordinary.

some-people think know people

My family weren't actors, and we didn't know any actors. It wasn't even something I was aware you could do as a job. I thought you had to be a Redgrave or a Barrymore before you were allowed to go to drama school.

job you family school

It's funny landing parts now where I'm somebody's mum. I remember the first time I was asked to play a mum. I was easily old enough, but because I didn't have any children, I thought, 'That seems really grown-up.'

time remember funny children

Being an actor does make you aware of your age.

your being you age

I've been very fortunate.

very been fortunate

I love acting. It's what I do, not what I am.

i-love i-am acting love

I love rehearsing; it's the best part of the job.

best-part best job love

By the time I was 10, I had lived in 11 different countries.

lived had different time

I'm not cool at all. I'm the least cool person I know.

least person cool know

I have this sense of humour which is about as sophisticated as a seven-year-old schoolboy. I get very overexcited and silly.

sense get humour silly

I'm guilty of it myself, sort of thinking, 'Classic novels: snoozeville.' But there is a huge amount of wonderful material.

myself guilty classic thinking

'Pride And Prejudice' takes place in a similar period to 'Vanity Fair,' and yet there's a huge difference between Jane Austen and Thackeray.

difference place prejudice pride