“All that celebrity stuff isn't me. It's just not acting.”

“'Bionic Woman' changed direction too much from episode to episode, which I think is why it lost momentum.”

“'Bionic Woman' really enriched my career. It was a big, amazing thing to do.”

“For me, once I've worked on something and it's finished, it's like an ex-boyfriend: you don't go back to them.”

“I adore water, so it would be a real adventure to visit the Amazon before they chop down all the trees.”

“I just believe that sometimes in life you're like a shark - you have to keep moving through water; otherwise, you'll die.”

“I just don't know anything about jazz, really. I've never really listened to it, but I'd definitely like to discover more about it.”

“I like to hang out with my friends, go to the theatre, watch DVDs, read, play with my niece.”

“I love doing action; I love doing martial arts. There's almost something balletic about it.”

“I really like Billie Holiday's husky voice, and I'd definitely like to find out more about her.”

“I think it's so important as an actor that you hang on to your own inner compass, because so many people want to guide you - 'This is what you should you be doing'. But I want to do different things.”

“I was bullied. I was a bit of a geek. Good-looking guys were off-limits. I didn't start dating until I was 18.”

“I was shy and really into my school work and my drama. Then I joined 'EastEnders' at 16, and it was work, work, work. You become very isolated. I rarely went out and so didn't get to meet anyone.”

“If I am not working, I won't wear makeup and I will wear flats.”

“If I wear make-up, then people recognise me, but the rest of the time, no one really bothers.”

“I've always loved the guitar. You see Jimi Hendrix playing the guitar with his teeth, and OK, you know you're never going to be able to do that, but I always wanted to play an instrument of some sort.”

“I've never been a social bunny. I thrive on work.”

“Money doesn't drive me.”

“Most of my cousins are boys, so I'm used to being around boys.”

“Obviously I'm not a violent person; I don't like violence, but I would definitely go into defending myself if the situation arose.”

“Soaps are a great springboard for any actor but if you want to be taken seriously, you have to be careful.”

“Sometimes in life, random things can blind-side you.”

“The whole dream of having your own place is great, but the reality is having to cook and clean yourself and do the washing and make sure there's milk in the fridge. But you have to grow up some time.”

“When I left EastEnders, I could have earned an absolute fortune from sexy calendars, shoots for lads' mags, fitness videos and reality shows. But I always turned them down.”

“When you fight on set, you try to not hurt anybody.”

“Working on new projects gives you the opportunity to learn and absorb new things.”