Curvy is something to be proud of.

I’m under no illusion that there are things about me that I’d like to change. I just accept who I am, and I’m proud of it.

It’s celebrated in British culture to be eccentric.

When you research prolific songwriters, it is usually later in their career they write songs that they distance themselves from, or it’s about other people.

I was mainly raised by a working mum who didn’t have much time or inclination for making food. So I had three or four basic meals: fish fingers and a tomato; a packet scotch egg...

I was once in a long relationship with a man who ran a vintage clothes store but had been a chef, so I’d come home each night to a different three-course meal. I was quite...

I like sparkles; I think I’m a magpie.

A lot of men do have a fear of my ultra-femininity. Sometimes people say I look like a drag queen, that I look scary, but I think that’s a fear of my confidence. Most women...

I get plenty of, ‘Is that song about me?’ from men but I just tell them to get over themselves.

Cinema affects everything, from the way I get dressed to how I build my stages.

We live in a society where everything’s packaged.

There’s nothing wrong with a thick eyebrow; Frida Kahlo had them.

My mum came from nothing and didn’t have many opportunities in her youth, and she blames a lot of her social inadequacies on that.

It’s tragic that you can define a whole movement in music by gender alone. People are like, ‘Oh, look, another quirky girl.’

I’m not that materialistic. I like nice clothes and that, but I don’t spend lots of money on stuff. I’m not really into TV, I don’t have an iPod, I’ve got a gramophone.

I don’t connect much with the present. I have more of an affinity for what came in the past.

I really like to please people, and I think it’s a symptom of being an only child.

I feel quite fearless protecting the people I love.

I have a lot of admiration for people who’ve been in relationships a long time, married for years.

I get to know my regular fans, and they inspire me.

Whatever you are, you have the right to get married.

We all get old, but I always say the skinny, pretty girls will be screwed.

The freedom that money gives you makes you… well, I wouldn’t say happy, but I’d say it gives you diversity.

My desire to experiment comes from my attention-deficit approach to cosmetics. I just get really bored, really easily.

I wish I was more stupid because I’m either completely ecstatic and joyous and absolutely high as a kite or I’m a bit morbid. There’s never anything in between.

I’d say that, first and foremost, I’m a performer; I started performing when I was four years old, and being on stage from a young age set me up.

I wasn’t really comfortable reading until I was 12.

It’s amazing living alone. I’m very lucky. It’s like a refuge.

I just really want to make albums – and however I can, I will.

I just have an inability to lie.

When I do my shows, it’s really cross-generational. Sometimes there’s three generations there.

I don’t understand why the accent you speak in has to indicate what level of intellect you have.

You feel a sense of elation seeing yourself on a billboard.

No one ever chats me up; I think they all think I’m taken. Either that or no one fancies me.

I use debit cards for everyday purchases, as I don’t believe in credit cards. But this has caused problems, especially with American touring, because I refuse to have a credit card – and in America...

I’m so used to changing time zones that I can sleep at any time. I’m rarely ever tossing and turning – if I am, it’s really a big deal.

I’d love to say that I could write political songs, but I don’t feel clued-up enough.

There’s nothing better than achieving your goals, whatever they might be.

I’m the type of person who, if somebody offers me a free meal, I get excited because you never know where your next free meal is going to come from.

I think soul is soul. I don’t see new soul as any different to old soul.

Working with Terry Gilliam was magic – I’ve been watching his films since I was little.

I enjoy being a girl.

I agree with cosmetic surgery for medical reasons – my mother had breast cancer and I think it’s very sad when somebody has no choice in what happens to their body.

Real talent shines through regardless of how many others there are around you.

I’ve spent a lot of time being bohemian and sleeping on floors, but eventually I want to have kids and I want to bring them up in a secure environment.

Sometimes when you’ve got too much money you lose your imagination.

I’m not a downtrodden woman. I just won’t be.

I’m surrounded by friends and family who are not that impressed by celebrity. They don’t have any problem telling me I’m acting like an idiot or I’m not that funny.

Compared to a lot of artists, I’m usually quite covered up in videos and photo shoots.

I vote Labour and can’t begin to acknowledge anything good that comes from a Tory.