“I've never found it made the slightest difference being a woman - though there is a sort of feeling that as you get older you're not so interesting.”

“Iranian filmmakers are not passive. They fight whenever they can, as creative expression means a lot to them. The restrictions and censorship in Iran are a bit like the British weather: one day it's sunny, the next day it's raining. You just have to hope you walk out into the sunshine.”