Here’s what she had to say:

Did you go to Katie Holmes’ wedding?

Everybody wants to know that. No, I didn’t go because I was working on The Tourist. To be honest, we’re not really in touch.

How has becoming a mother changed you?

I feel like I didn’t have any relationship with my body before Matilda. Well I did, but it was just a bad one. After having my daughter I can’t judge myself in the same way. My body has done this totally miraculous but utterly ordinary thing. The downside is that my vocabulary has shrunk to the size of a pea. Since having a kid I just don’t have the same access to the world. I don’t see as many shows, I don’t go to many movies and I hardly read any books anymore. I’m lucky to make it through a book a month. So you start to develop in a much more non-verbal way, which can be so frustrating. Also there’s been a lot going on in my personal life and part of me is… I don’t know. I shouldn’t talk about it but it’s like I’m re-emerging back into the world or something.

Would you describe yourself as vain?

I have insecurity masquerading as vanity. I don’t think I’m vain as an actress but I’m probably more so as a person. Again, it goes back to that thing about when I’m working is the only time when I don’t judge myself. I feel totally open to exploring all the sides of my physical self in my work. While I’m working I really don’t give a f— how I look. Afterwards, if I have to watch it, I might have some problems.

What’s the day ahead hold for you?

I’m going to pick Matilda up from school at 11:30 and she’ll take a nap. I might join her because tonight I’m doing hospital rounds in preparation for the film Mammoth. It’s Lukas Moodysson’s first English language film. I play a New York City trauma surgeon so I’ve been trailing a doctor for a few months. We’re going to step it up tonight and go to Elmhurst hospital in Queens, which is a top-level trauma hospital. The whole experience has been such an eye-opener. The first time I did it, I had this weird sensation where I thought, ‘Oh f—, I’ve missed my calling’. The sense of purpose made me wish I’d become a doctor.

Michelle on balancing motherhood with work:

“It’s not easy. Last April I was over in London doing a movie called Incendiary with Ewan McGregor. It’s about a woman grieving after losing her husband and son in a terrorist attack. It was a brutal role and arduous: six-day weeks, 14 hour-days. I was like the walking dead towards the end. Matilda would visit me everyday on-set for lunch and I’d race home to put her to bed. My only days off were Sundays and as much as I’d want to pass out, I’d try to take her out somewhere fun so she didn’t associate me with boredom. The only time that is really my own these days is after I’ve put her to bed and until I go to bed. That’s about two hours.”

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