Fiona Shaw

Like a lot of Irish households we read a lot of Irish history. It was almost Soviet, raising the next generation with a mythic view of their history.

My mother adores singing and plays piano. My uncle was a phenomenal pianist. My brother John is a double bassist. I used to play the piano, badly, and cello. My brother Peter played violin.

Acting doesn't have to be threadbare misery all the time.

I know they call me a crazy lady, but I'm only interested in making movies and having people see them.

People say if you're doing an art project, that's different from a book, but I honestly don't see it. I try and try, and I just don't.

Shaft was a pop culture figure along t he lines of, I guess, Dirty Harry - except that he wasn't as much of a racist. So yeah, I was always a fan.