The BRIT awards is a really great occasion, especially for us Brits, because it shows the talent and support coming from our country.

When you're coming out new, it's harder as a girl to gain fans because most of them are girls, and they can be like, 'Do we like her?' If I were a boy, it'd be much easier.

When I was growing up, I was surrounded by people that were listening to a lot of pop music.

I've written a lot of songs from watching women speak about women empowerment.

I have deep sympathy with the hundreds of my constituents who fear that legislation for same-sex marriage will profoundly encroach - although this may be unintended - on their right to live according to their faith.

Only our individual faith in freedom can keep us free.

God is not external to anyone, but is present with all things, though they are ignorant that he is so.

I was friends with Susan Sontag the last four years of her life. She had this amazing charisma and so much energy, but she had a sad little funeral in Montparnasse in Paris. It was rainy. It was all wrong. And I was thinking, 'God, she loved life so much.'