The film does not offer the most flattering portrayal of women...

I think it's very truthful. I don't think it's unflattering. That class of women exists, in every country and every city. Dallas is exaggerated because there's a lot of very rich people there. There's no reason for the city to be there. There are no mountains, there's no sea, there's no river. It's just there in the middle of Texas. There's no architecture. These people don't have anything else to do but that social preening. Every actress there came from Dallas, many of them from that society. They all knew what they were doing.

How did you settle on the idea of casting Richard Gere as a gynaecologist?

As soon as that magazine, People, said "Richard Gere is the sexiest man alive", I thought "This is our guy!" Richard got it immediately. He understood it. He's a terrific man and a really good actor.

You have fallen in and out of favour with Hollywood across your career. Does that bother you?

That's always happened, but personally, there's never been - today or ever - a film maker who has had a better shake than I have. I've never been without a film of my own choosing. I've always had control of my own films. The only thing I haven't done is gotten rich. But anybody who wants to get rich and go into this kind of work is crazy. I've had a great time. I've been treated terrifically and I love what I do.

"Dr T. & the Women" is out in UK cinemas on Friday 6th July 2001.