Laurence Olivier said in an interview once that when he plays a tragedy he always aims for the funny parts and the other way around. Because in a comedy you look for what's serious. I think that's true. Sometimes things are really funny if you're absolutely earnest. If you're really serious it's hilarious.

It's funny: I'm a lifelong musician but because I principally play the piano it's been a solitary thing.

I don't hate humanity and I'm not interested in people who do. Although it's funny actually some of my favorite writers really do. Like Martin Amis. My dirty secret. 'London Fields' is one of my favorite books ever. And it's indefensible! But he's so funny... I forgive him everything.

The thing I thought about doing it was it's Comic Relief and you've got to be funny. So although I did try to sing properly it obviously has hilarious results when you can't sing.

The funny thing is that I'm the girl who no one sees at the beach. Ask anyone who's traveled with me. Normally I'm in so many layers I look like Lawrence of Arabia!

At home in L.A. Sunday is lazy. It's the wife and me lying in bed with coffee watching 'The Soup' or something funny on TiVo. The kid will occasionally join us. Eventually breakfast is at a place down the street called Paty's. And we always have some kind of great dinner - my wife makes a great roast beef.

The kind of funny irony is that a lot of people talk about ethical meat eating as if it's a way to care about things but also not to alienate yourself from the rest of the world. But it's so much more alienating than vegetarianism.

There's always an article coming out saying 'The new thing is funny women!'

Funny enough if you are looking at people these days who are putting Botox in their face and getting all sorts of plastic surgery we look at them and go I can tell you've had Botox. I can tell you've had plastic surgery. You look really strange to me. But no one's saying anything. We're just accepting the fact that they're strange-looking.

I watch things that are fun or funny or interesting.

The funny thing is people won't let me pay for things. I'll be in a restaurant and the manager will say 'Oh no it's on the house.'

Some people can do things and get away with it. Comics are famously like that. Why is it that some guys can say the most horrible things and it's not offensive it's funny?

There's something dangerous about what's funny. Jarring and disconcerting. There is a connection between funny and scary.

And I like to keep whatever is mine remaining that way. It's a funny little game to play and it's a slippery slope. I always say to myself I'm never going to give anything away because there's never any point or benefit for me.

It's a funny thing: You want so badly for people to see what you do - you're proud of it - and I like the effect that movies have on people. But the attention can also make me uncomfortable.

I'm like bursting. I should be working. I don't want to take a break. It's funny on set I don't have to go to the bathroom I don't have anything wrong I'm perfectly fine so through-and-through. I'm not hungry. I'm literally not even in my own body.

We've seen some insane signs: 'Is that a loaf of bread in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?' Funny stuff along those lines. Very original. One just said 'I will do unspeakable things.' I thought that was very interesting - and mildly terrifying!

I think the pattern of my essays is A funny thing happened to me on my way through Finnegans Wake.

The funny thing is I'm not bothered or sad about being on my own - after all I've never had a husband.

I don't like comedy. I like funny things. I don't like comedy. Like comedy movies are just 'Oh Jesus.'

Life was a funny thing that happened to me on the way to the grave.

It's funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to.

It's only I have seen enough of it and the funny thing is now I know that I'm skinny because I know there are even smaller clothes in the store. I think I'm big when I was big I never thought about it.

You can't really be strong until you see a funny side to things.