As an actor or director: Paris, Texas; Star Wars Episodes 4-6; most Coen brothers (especially Barton Fink); Brazil; Baz's Romeo + Juliet; Strictly Ballroom; Le Gout des Autres; Volver; Lord of the Rings; Manhattan Murder Mystery; Gosford Park; Die Hard; Let the Right One In; Bright Star; Casablanca; Vertigo; Doubt; State and Main; Best in Show; This is Spinal Tap; Michael Clayton; Melancholia... et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Recently, I cried in Melancholia (I think out of shock?), Bright Star, Where the Wild Things Are, UP!... In general, it's pretty easy for films to make me cry. It's safe to assume that if it's sad/scary/mildly startling/Disney-Pixar, I cried.

I have never walked out during a movie at the cinema, but I came that close during Shopgirl with Steve Martin.

Terry Gilliam, Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola, Peter Jackson, Baz Luhrmann, Jane Campion, Pedro Almodovar, the Coen brothers.

Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Maggie Smith, Tilda Swinton, Judi Dench, Leonardo DiCaprio, Toni Collette, Fiona Shaw, Emily Mortimer, Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart, Penelope Cruz, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis...

Philip Pullman, George R R Martin, Gerald Durrell, Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling

'The Portable Dorothy Parker' by Dorothy Parker and Marion Meade

My mother's lasagne with the crispy cheese on top, with a glass of fine red wine, followed by vanilla and chocolate icecream with raspberries on the side.

I have this old book, a reject from a library I used to go to when I was really little - 'Tatsinda'. Classic prince/princess story set in this wonderful land. Beautiful illustrations.