Tilda Swinton (as Martha)

I think they were rather, honestly, I think they'd forgive me for saying, rather frightened of artists. Why? I don't know. I think they... Why? I remember very distinctly a moment when my father was a, he once had his portrait painted and a painter came to the house and I was about nine, I suppose. And I remember this sort of frisson in the air, a painter is coming to paint daddy.

And I remember when this man came I didn't see him. I remember looking down a corridor knowing that a painting was taking place down this corridor. And the light was on and I knew that my father was in there with an artist. It's like being in there with a wild lion or something.

And I remember when this man came I didn't see him. I remember looking down a corridor knowing that a painting was taking place down this corridor. And the light was on and I knew that my father was in there with an artist. It's like being in there with a wild lion or something.

I just... needed to find my company. And the first sort of practicing artist I ever met was a boy. I was at a girls' school in Kent and there was a boys' school just down the road. And I met, I can't even remember how I met him, but I met this boy called Johnny who was at this boys' school and he was into art. And we just sort of, we were like art nerds.

I just... needed to find my company. And the first sort of practicing artist I ever met was a boy. I was at a girls' school in Kent and there was a boys' school just down the road. And I met, I can't even remember how I met him, but I met this boy called Johnny who was at this boys' school and he was into art. And we just sort of, we were like art nerds.

And I used to escape the school to meet him and it wasn't remotely romantic. But it was very sexy, actually, because we were having these clandestine meetings talking about art and showing each other our drawings. So it did have a kind of erotic feel, but we were not involved. But we were involved sexually. But there was this I knew and I must have been about 15, 16 when this happened.

And I used to escape the school to meet him and it wasn't remotely romantic. But it was very sexy, actually, because we were having these clandestine meetings talking about art and showing each other our drawings. So it did have a kind of erotic feel, but we were not involved. But we were involved sexually. But there was this I knew and I must have been about 15, 16 when this happened.

So I knew that there were other people involved. And I just was looking for them and didn't find them for a long time. I mean, here's something that I was telling somebody yesterday. At the school I was at, we weren't allowed music, which I think is a terrible abuse to a growing sensibility. And particularly in the 70s, I mean, think what we were missing out.

So I knew that there were other people involved. And I just was looking for them and didn't find them for a long time. I mean, here's something that I was telling somebody yesterday. At the school I was at, we weren't allowed music, which I think is a terrible abuse to a growing sensibility. And particularly in the 70s, I mean, think what we were missing out.

But that's probably why they were doing it. They were sort of keeping us away from the sex pistols.

But that's probably why they were doing it. They were sort of keeping us away from the sex pistols.

And I remember when I was about 13, seeing the cover of Aladdin Sane.

And I remember when I was about 13, seeing the cover of Aladdin Sane.

Yes.

Yes.

With the gingery hair.

With the gingery hair.

And this pearlescent...

And this pearlescent...

Yes, the mercury collarbone. And I recognized him. He looked so familiar to me. And I bought this record with my Christmas money. And I didn't have a turntable. And I couldn't play it for years. I didn't hear Aladdin Sane. I owned it. I knew that it was something.