SHIRLEY WILLIAMS,
BARONESS WILLIAMS OF CROSBY BY PC

I was evacuated to America as a child, where I almost became a movie star. The news went out that a big picture was looking for a young actress and every region of the country was invited to put up a name: the requirements were that they should speak 'English English', be blonde, be good riders and have a little experience of acting.

We had screen tests and I was narrowly beaten by Elizabeth Taylor. There was, of course, an important difference between us: her mother was there with her, battling and lobbying for her. And my mother was back at home in England. So I didn't have quite the same advantages.

Was politics the career I was always 'destined' for, as opposed to acting? I think if one's character is inclined towards being tremendously involved and energetic, which mine is, then whatever career you end up doing will reflect that. Whether you become an astronomer or an actress, an engineer or a politician – you're going to throw yourself into it.

The funny thing is that women are always charged with getting emotional, but when it comes to politics, they tend to be much more serious than men. It's very rare to see women taking part in those 'football terrace games' that you see men playing in virtually any debate in the House of Commons. Mostly they don't like it, and they worry about the real issues that have to be confronted, rather than getting all excited and emotional in the face of them.

Women, you see, are far less secure than men in their professional roles, whether they are businesswomen or politicians. Wherever you find women doing jobs that have been thought of, traditionally, as 'men's jobs' you don't find a lot of humour because their path to the top has not been funny.