Who's your favourite neighbour?

I live two doors down from Emma Thompson so we're in each other's pockets all the time, which is heaven. We've known each other for years and years and, whenever she's in a film, she's always happy to give a mate a part, which is lucky because I'm always begging her.

We last worked together on Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, where she played Sybil Trelawney and I played the awful Dolores Umbridge. I got to sack her, which was wonderful, as it's something I'd been waiting to do for years.

You were obviously having a lot of fun making Harry Potter

Well, let's put it this way, when the book first came out, a friend called and said, 'You've got to read the new Harry Potter book, there's a part in it that's perfect for you when they make the film.' I thought, 'Oooh, how lovely'. Then I read the description in the book of a short, fat, ugly woman who was like a toad! Perfect for me, hmm? Thanks a lot. But she's a great personality. I never care what my character looks like as long as the role is good. That's why they call me No Make-Up Staunton!

Has it won you a new fan-base among the under-ten set?

Well, actually, they're a little frightened of me. But if they don't like Miss Umbridge, that means that I've done my job well playing a villain. I'm really not like that off the screen and when I do meet kids, they realise that within about eight seconds. Thank goodness.