You spent your early years living in Africa. How did that shape you?

We moved around a lot because my dad was in the foreign office and I think it had a huge effect on me. Africa was very different from growing up in London – I was very innocent and would do things like go out to the Serengeti and watch the animals. Moving back to England in my early teens was certainly different; I couldn’t understand why the people in my class wanted to smoke and drink.

After 18 years as an actress, do you have any career goals for the future?

Thankfully I’ve always found it quite simple to live in the moment. I don’t reflect a lot and I don’t worry about the future, but I am really happy with my next few choices… The final Harry Potter film was a fantastic thing to be involved in [Helen plays Narcissa Malfoy in the last three instalments]; I’ve also filmed a BBC drama called We’ll Take Manhattan in which I play US Vogue’s former fashion editor, Lady Clare Rendlesham; and I’ve been working with Martin Scorsese on The Invention Of Hugo Cabret, a set of three 3D films, which was an absolute honour and privilege.

Would you say you’re happy in your own skin?

I don’t know that I’ve always been confident and self-assured, but I’ve never been all that self-conscious. I find what’s going on around me far more interesting than my own navel.

Helen McCrory on marriage, the spotlight and being a role model to her children