“I was running a charity that taught teenagers about furniture restorat...” — Jay Blades Quote

I was running a charity that taught teenagers about furniture restoration. The Guardian online did a piece with me and it went viral.

When the teacher tells you you're a dunce and you're never going to amount to anything, that sticks with you.

My mum was incredibly resourceful and there were loads of aunts and uncles around who helped.

I take in loads of information at one time - listening, reading people's faces, watching their mouths and then storing it in your brain. When I come back from filming I just zonk out because it's like information overload.

I wasn't aware of how important food was until I was at real rock bottom. When I was 46, I sat in a room and ate a box of Farley's Rusks and it was joyous. It fed the soul. It took me back to my childhood.

As Jews, we are commanded to give tzedakah - an act of justice, not charity - because it is the righteous thing to do.

Charity work is part of my life. I do it, I expect to do it, but it is not a career.

I've known those guys for decades and done some charity fundraisers with them in L.A. The response was so great from the Boston/Doobies/Felder package.

My husband and I are big givers to charity, and we are teaching our son Barron all about giving his old toys away to children who might not have any.

The charity work is just a part of what I do. Like... I make time to clean my house, to care for my pets, to visit my extended family, because those things are important to me. Same with helping others.