John Wilson

That's why it's really great to bring up your children bilingually.

It's hard work because you have to concentrate.

And if you've got anyone else involved in the child rearing, you've got to repeat everything.

So it's hard work, but it's really worth it.

And what drives you on creatively?

Curiosity, a hunger for experience and push myself.

I like doing things that I don't know how to do.

So more writing and directing in the future?

Yes.

Can you see yourself moving away from acting completely?

I think if people continue to offer me roles that are challenging, then I will continue to be an actor.

If I get drawn into, this is a threat, if I'm just asked to play spy chiefs for the rest of my life, I won't do any more of those, even though I'm having great fun.

Kristin Scott Thomas, thank you so much for sharing your culture life.

It's an absolute pleasure.

Well, I really hope you enjoyed that conversation with Kristin Scott-Thomas, who now joins a really starry cast list of previous guests on This Cultural Life.

Award-winning actors including Nicole Kidman, Glenda Jackson, Judi Dench, Juliette Binoche, Gillian Anderson, Jennifer Lawrence and many more.

You can hear them all on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts internationally.

And please do subscribe to This Cultural Life so that you never miss an episode.

From me, John Wilson, and Sirius producer Edwina Pittman, thank you very much indeed for listening to This Cultural Life.

welcome to this cultural life the series in which the world's leading artistic figures choose the influences and experiences that most inspired their own creativity i'm john wilson and my guest in this episode is the booker prize-winning american author george saunders he made his name as a writer of satirical or absurdist short stories which often explore contemporary consumerist society always underpinned with a strong sense of compassion and empathy