Australia is a phenomenally beautiful country, and every time I go away and come back, it never ceases to amaze me.

I have a sort of long-term plan to direct. I'm pragmatic about it. I realize I don't need to rush it or force it.

I always loved putting on shows - when you're the youngest of seven and five are older sisters, you've got to get noticed somehow! I did puppet shows and magic shows... even ventriloquism. My doll's name was 'Dan,' and I used to write these scripts, and my schoolmate hid under the table and supplied Dan's voice.

In very general terms 'Top Of The Lake' is about good and evil. It's a deep dark mystery. It also deals with lots of fascinating human relationships, and it's also about the battle of the sexes.

Acting, to me, is being given the freedom and ability to play, and that's - that's what I love most about it. I feel very comfortable in playing, whether it be in front of a camera or on stage.

I do regard myself as very lucky.

Some people would say I've made it now.

I'm becoming a frustrated director, I think, in an actor's body.

I would love to direct a feature and have Robert Connolly produce it. That would be really fab.

I think actors do make really, really wonderful directors.

I'll never forget anything about Middle Earth. That's part of my memory now so I won't miss anything.

As we mature and grow older we collect a lot of baggage, and a lot of that stuff you collect on life's journey gets in the way of acting. My kids can imagine a character and transform in the blink of an eye. It's so simple for kids, so complex for adults.

I've ended up spending more time in front of a camera than on stage, but the stage is where I come from.

Well you just have to own it, I suppose. Own the character, which is difficult.