Maxine Peake : (8)

" I watch ‘Take Me Out’ mainly for Paddy McGuinness. When we were younger, we worked together as lifeguards at the Bolton Leisure Centre. " - Maxine Peake

" When I was a little girl, there was this unbelievably cool female bus driver who’d work near us. I remember thinking I’d like to be her when I grew up. " - Maxine Peake

" I’ve always had pop-star crushes. I had a huge crush on Ian Brown. " - Maxine Peake

" As a human, if you’re in a scary situation, you pretty much forget about everything else! You just try and survive. " - Maxine Peake

" At drama school, I was told, ‘Lay off the chips, or you’ll never play Juliet.’ Sometimes, in the stock room of the set of ‘Dinnerladies,’ I’d put away three or four Mars bars while waiting for a scene. Then, at 24, I lost five stone. " - Maxine Peake

" I’m very independent, probably quite selfish, and like being able to disappear at the drop of a hat without having to explain myself – most men would find that a pain, wouldn’t they? " - Maxine Peake

" People think I’m clever, which is hilarious. I’m like, ‘When did this happen? People used to think I couldn’t string a sentence together.’ " - Maxine Peake

" ‘Toast of London’ is a must-watch. Matt Berry’s off-the-wall humour is slightly surreal and a little bit deviant. That’s why I also love ‘House of Fools.’ " - Maxine Peake