David Attenborough... has that wonderful, breathy voice, and he's always so fascinated by what he's seeing. There's nothing about him that I can't find attractive.

Robert Louis Stevenson... I'm focusing on the late short stories that I was ignorant of. I always thought he was a boys' author, but he's not at all.

I don't much enjoy travelling, but I have always longed to take a slow train to Russia. I'd like to go alone - like writers do - with only a pencil and piece of paper as company. I'd take my sketchbook and note down all the wonderful details of other travellers.

People always like things that seem exotic.

My mother was right: When you've got nothing left, all you can do is get into silk underwear and start reading Proust.

He painted me when I was young because he was in love with me, but now that he has loved me he doesn't paint me anymore.