A life in cuttings: Sheila Hancock

'Journalists are more interested in my life than my more - maybe that's a bit sad'...Sheila Hancock & Bette Davis in The Anniversary in 1968 Photograph: PR

'My daughterr Ellie-Jane and I certainly did have our problems. But that's the past. These days I get on great with all three girls' Photograph: Public domain

'I sound like Mother Teresa at times- I've never been as nice as or as selfless as that' Photograph: Public domain

'When John and I married, he wasn't very well known. We got a copy of Who's Who and there was a bit about me and the he looked up himself and it said "John Thaw, see Sheila Hancock." He was furious' Photograph: Public domain

'I can't keep my trap shut in interviews- I'm not very good at dissembling' Photograph: Public domain

'Yes I felt sorry for myself and I missed John terribly, but that is not all of me'...Sheila Hancock and husband John Thaw with daughters, Melanie and baby Joanna in 1975 Photograph: /Rex Features

'These days, I rarely survive a play. I always old ladies, most of them on their last legs' Photograph: Public domain