I believe President Clinton requested a private screening. Were you aware of that?

I was aware but I wasn't invited and I would have taken a cigar had I been. It's pretty good, isn't it?

There's not a bad performance throughout. The boy, Jamie Bell, is marvellous.

He's a newcomer. When Steven Daldry sent me the script and we met to talk about it, I said, "never mind Mrs Wilkinson, how are you going to cast this boy? He's got to be able to act because the scenes are quite complicated emotionally and he's got to be able to dance well enough to get into the Royal Ballet School. And he's got to come from the North East." Anyway, they went off and saw 2,000 boys. He's never acted before and there was just a freshness about him and an honesty that he brought. It was wonderful working with him.

There's a scene between the two of you in the car where you talk about his dead mother, which is really a beautiful little scene, and a beautiful piece of acting from both of you.

You mean the scene in the gym. Yeah, I know.

The car scene where he thinks you might be after him for your physical needs! By the way you play an unfulfilled woman in that respect. I felt the urge to satisfy you.

I love this. Do you think any others will be feeling that way?

There'll be a queue!

Read what Julie Walters has to say about Steven Daldry, dancing, and British films.