Claudia Schiffer

Claudia: (Speaking in 1996) My little brother tries to get me to tell him the secret of how David saws me in half, but I say that when he earns a lot of money, we'll talk about it.

Claudia: I have just had my third child in May and I am definitely not going to have any more. I love being a mum but I am happy with what I have got, so now that's it.

Claudia: I come from a big family and I always wanted to have kids of my own. Before I met Matthew I worked non-stop. But once we got together suddenly a whole new world seemed to open up. When I had my first child my priorities became completely different. Motherhood made me feel, 'This is what I'm all about.' You stop worrying. Matthew and I are a team. We make all our decisions together whether it's about the children or the house.

Claudia: I will always have a soft spot in my heart, and I'm excited that 23 years later we can still work together so successfully. Shooting the Guess 30th anniversary campaign was like going back in time.

Claudia: I'm able to get dressed very quickly in the morning as I have key pieces I always turn to. I'll pull on my Acne jeans with a cashmere knit and heels or wear a sweater dress with black opaque tights and my brown leather over-the-knee boots. Then I add what I call my 'of the moment' accessories - right now that's a black Chanel handbag or brown Ferragamo satchel and cuffs from Kara Ross and Monica Vinader. These work with all of my outfits and I wear them for a few weeks on and off and then change again. And you really can't go wrong with a pair of diamond stud earrings, as they go with everything. I've got a really gorgeous pair that Matthew gave me, so if I feel like wearing earrings, I'll just pop those in my ears too.

Claudia: My parents' support has always been very important. But I also had support from my oldest friend; we've known each other since we were four years old. She still lives in Germany, so we don't see each other as often, but I talk to her regularly. She knows me from before, she knows my family, we're very close. We went through all the same rituals together – experimenting with make up, first boyfriends, our first cigarettes (though we got caught by her mum!), and I even pierced her ears for her using a sewing needle (but then backed out of letting her do mine as well!). Now she's a mother too and we holiday together.

Claudia: At one event, I wore a Chanel biker jacket over a very short mini dress, a gold belt with charms hanging off it, fishnet tights, loads of make-up and a pair of huge gold hoop earrings – it was all really over the top and fun!

Claudia: (On her debut fashion collection in 2011) The idea of it is effortless chic - it's based on my life and the clothes I need. I have 15 minutes to get dressed in the morning before taking the children to school. I want to throw on clothes but still look chic, then I want to go from school to a meeting and then out for dinner by only changing a handbag or my earrings or something … It's simple and lovely to wear but still really chic and very high quality - that's all I wanted.

Claudia: (On not wanting to return to the catwalk) Nobody believes me but I'm very shy...I understood that I had to do it when I was modelling but now, since I don't have to do it, I'd rather not. Designers are very clever at trying to persuade me to do it each season and it's flattering that they do, but nothing would change my mind.

Claudia: My role model is Audrey Hepburn, I admire her a lot. I'd like to have her grace and charisma, which are qualities you acquire not in youth, but only with life experience. I'd like to be more happy with myself. I've never liked myself very much, I've always thought I should be more extroverted - more this, more that. But you have to learn to accept yourself as you are. That's my goal for the future.

Claudia: (When asked if she followed a specific diet) I really enjoy good food, but I can't eat everything I'd like to. I eat a good breakfast of fruit, tea and honey. I have lots of vegetables for lunch, or soup. I eat protein at dinner: chicken or tuna fish. I try to eat a healthy diet, not just for my figure but for energy and my health, too. I feel better when I don't eat a lot. For example, cakes make me feel tired.

Claudia: My sister kept asking me what it felt like to be sawed in half by David. It's a bit difficult to describe just what it does feel like, so I arranged a little birthday surprise for her. At her party, David wheeled out the box he normally uses to saw me in half, and I invited her to get in. She was a bit taken aback at first, but that soon passed and David and I were soon locking her in the box. My brothers then held onto her head and feet while David and I sawed through her. Although she was a bit nervous, as I was the first time David sawed me in half, I could tell from the look on her face that she was really enjoying it. David then let me put the divider blades in before my brothers pulled her halves apart. After we'd put her back together again and let her out of the box, she told me that it was the most amazing thing she'd ever done, and the best birthday present she'd ever had. And I've got to admit that I enjoyed it as well - Usually, I'm the one getting sawed in half and wheeled around the stage, so it was nice to find out what its like to be on the other end of the saw!

Claudia: Quentin Tarantino asked me to work with him but there is no way I am going to do that while Matthew Vaughn is working in film.

Claudia: There is no situation where it is right to fake an orgasm. Why did God give us the gift of speech? There is also no substitute for love-making, not even buying shoes! Feeling my husband entering and moving inside me really is the most wonderful sensation there is.

Claudia: (On the reception she once received in Italy) Thousands of people followed us to the flat when I'd been shooting for Valentino and they were singing songs to me from the pavement. I had to go on the balcony and say thank you. It was surreal.

Claudia: (On turning down lucrative offers from publishers for her to write her autobiography) I've had a lot of offers, but I just don't feel ready yet. Everyone writes them when they are so young these days, and I don't think the time is right for me. Plus you have to write about all these incredibly personal things. I've always been a very private person - but who knows? Maybe one day I'll feel ready.

Claudia: When my sister saw I'd had my ears pierced, she started talking about finally getting her's done too. I told her that she should, because I really love having mine done and I knew she would too, but she was really worried about it being painful. I told her not to worry, that it didn't hurt at all when I had mine pierced, and that it was all over so quickly I barely even noticed they had been done. It took her a while to decide, but she eventually had them done - Although she did insist on me going with her to give her some moral support!

Claudia: If there is a potential down-side to being a magician's wife, it's that your husband does keep wanting to saw you in half, stick swords through you, and that sort of thing. Fortunately, I really enjoy working with David as well as being married to him, so I don't mind at all when he does saw me in half, chop my head off or ask to do anything else like that to me.

Claudia: I would like to move to Berlin with Matthew and the kids for a few months. Berlin is like being abroad in Germany. It's German, but not provincial. Everyone loves it.

Claudia: The scariest thing I do in David's shows? Definitely the guillotine. There I am, strapped into it with my hands tied behind my back, unable to move, and all I can do is stare down into the basket and wait. That always makes me a bit nervous. But the scariest part is when I feel it start to shake as the blade drops, then feel the blade go through my neck, and then see the basket apparently jump up at me as my head drops into it - That's the bit that I've still not got used to yet. Then again, is being beheaded something you should get used to? Compared to that, being sawed in half is easy!

Claudia: There was so much press at the fashion shows that it was really difficult to get ready. I'd be in my underwear and people would be trying to take pictures from above. At Chanel they had to make a special area for me to change.

Claudia: I'm not really a big jewelry person - never have been. Normally, all I wear is my wedding ring, a watch, and a small cross on a chain around my neck. Of course, now I've got pierced ears, I'll often wear earrings too, but not always. If I do, its usually a pair of diamond studs my husband gave me, although if I'm feeling especially bold, I've got some big hoops I love to wear too.

(On working with David Copperfield) Claudia: The first time David sawed me in half, I did feel quite nervous. But it was a lot of fun to do, and I didn't feel a thing as he sawed through me and pulled me apart. Now, being sawed in half is definitely my favorite part of being in David's shows.

Claudia: (On finally having her ears pierced) At first, it felt a bit strange to have them done, but I soon got used to it. Now, I really love them and keep wondering why I waited so long to have them done.

Claudia: (claiming that supermodels are now extinct) In order to become a supermodel one must be on all the covers all over the world at the same time so that people can recognise the girls. That is, for now, not least because the advertising industry is very much taken nowadays by pop stars and actresses. Supermodels, like we once were, don't exist any more.

Claudia: I've met women who have way better bodies in their 40s because they've been working on them for all these years.

Claudia: I just love to shock people. Yesterday my friend said, "What a great top, is it Stella?" I said, "No, it's Mango, £25." I'm never head-to-toe in anything. I like to mix things from Prada, things from Marc Jacobs. But, you know, you can spend several thousand pounds on something, wear it for one day and the button falls off. I get really pissed off when you spend so much money.

Claudia: I love wearing flat shoes, but I am not one of those girls who walks around in sweat pants and sneakers. I think I have something going on with shoes. Flat shoes. I buy them in several colors at once. High heels are for work and they have always been uncomfortable for me. I'm amazed when I see mothers wearing high heels. If your kids run off you can't run after them

Claudia: I love being pregnant. You can do whatever you want. You don't feel guilty, because I used to feel guilty about having a day off. And, you know, something really strange happened to me. Before my pregnancies, I was someone who had to watch their weight

Claudia: I used to work every single day and travel round the world. I worked weekends, I never took one second off. When I met my husband I said, "You know what, this is important. I'm not going to work weekends any more." And when I had kids, I became even more careful. Modelling work is fine because you can do one day here, two days there, you're never long gone.

Claudia: It's not that I'm against nudity. I'm German, I'm very open, in Germany they lay in the park naked. It's just the principle

Claudia: I actually don't meet very many men because they are, I guess, afraid to approach me or think that I'm from another planet

Claudia: I know one day I'll be considered too old. I think 40-year-old women actually look more healthy and fit than some girls in their 20s. I've met women who have way better bodies in their 40s because they've been working on them for all these years