Hobbits are an unobtrusive but very ancient people, more numerous formerly than they are today; for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth: a well-ordered and well-farmed countryside was their favourite haunt.

When I came to Johannesburg from the countryside, I knew nobody, but many strangers were very kind to me. I then was dragged into politics, and then, subsequently, I became a lawyer.

Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet.

I have always been that girl in the back who doesn’t say anything.

It is plain indeed that in spite of later estrangement Hobbits are relatives of ours: far nearer to us than Elves, or even than Dwarves. Of old they spoke the languages of Men, after their own fashion, and liked and disliked much the same things as Men did. But what exactly our relationship is can no longer be discovered.

When I was growing up, I wasn’t an extrovert. If anything, I was an introverted kid and a very average pupil at school. I was very quiet.

What is a farm but a mute gospel?

It’s rural America. It’s where I came from. We always refer to ourselves as real America. Rural America, real America, real, real, America.

I was definitely very much a country boy.

My friends and I had fun together, but I was more reserved, not at all the life of the party. I would just be the quiet one in the room.

I am an introvert; privately I am very shy, and I don’t speak unless I have to.

I’m just a simple country girl.

I should like to save the Shire, if I could – though there have been times when I thought the inhabitants too stupid and dull for words, and have felt that an earthquake or an invasion of dragons might be good for them.

I’m guarded; I don’t talk much.

I realized I was a country person – I’m just not used to small spaces.

But I’ll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you’ll come to understand that you’re connected with everything.

Cows are my passion. What I have ever sighed for has been to retreat to a Swiss farm, and live entirely surrounded by cows – and china.

100 percent a huge fan of Beyonce. If I see her, I will faint. I’ve met her before. I just get really nervous and quiet – I just shut up and bow down.