Julia Stiles

Could you relate to the prince's problems in trying to have a private life?
'I think it is more exaggerated for the prince in the movie. The paparazzi don't chase me. The difference between me being a public figure as opposed to someone who is royalty is that I chose my profession. So any negative aspects of being a public figure is really my own doing. But a prince is born into it and can't have it any other way.'

Do you have to think carefully about where you might go out with a boyfriend?
'I'm just not interesting enough for the paparazzi. [laughs] So I don't really have a problem. If I come out of the theatre after giving a performance then there will be people waiting for autographs and wanting pictures. But that's entirely different. In terms of people trying to get a picture of me in a bikini - that doesn't happen. Thank God!'

Why did you decide to stop being a vegan?
'I stopped being a vegan and then became a vegetarian. But the first meat I ate was not a hamburger - that was just a joke I made on a TV chat show. I changed diet because it really wasn't healthy. Being vegan is a hard thing to do and I became really anaemic. When you're travelling there's no way you can get proper nutrition. I do eat some red meat but not all the time.'

Are you enjoying living in London?
'I love London so much. I'm enchanted by it. The novelty has not worn. There is so much great art and culture. When we were rehearsing Oleanna I worked all day long and would come home and go to sleep. But now I'm trying to soak it all up. A treat for me in London is having a fancy high tea with cucumber sandwiches and scones.'

What must you have with you from home when you're in London?
'I get the New York Post sent over. Even though you have great papers here I still miss my New York Post.'