Patricia Routledge

(On being asked who was the greatest influence in her career) Patricia Routledge: My mother was my great inspiration, right from the start. She wasn't a theatre mother at all. Where I come from, you don't really encourage your children to go on stage but my mother was always wonderful and always behind me. I'm very lucky to have had her.

Patricia Routledge: I don't think about relaxing really because I love my job so much, and I think if you do enjoy performing, you know you get your therapy done that way.

(Discussing fan letters she has received) Patricia Routledge: One was from a woman who had just learned that she had a difficult disease to fight and that the future wasn't good. She returned home and turned on the television set and there I was. She said she just sat there for half an hour and the program put things curiously into perspective and made her feel much better about everything. I found that very moving and also very humbling, because it made me realize that the business of entertainment is really very important.