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It was trying to break down the stereotypes and it was the kind of thing where, for the first time, women were on a par and not seen as just objects. Though girls were objectified still.

Maybe studios don't want to see women acting in a way that isn't womanly. Maybe people don't.

Also, it was a cultural moment that wasn't being represented in terms of women who were successful and had choices they didn't have before. They needed a show that they can watch that they felt like represented them.

There's a general sense that women are more relaxed and less defensive in comedy than they used to be. I think it's easier than it was but underlying it all there is still a pretty sexist view of women on stage, which to me hasn't changed that much.

We had a moment in the '40s and '50s, where female characters were very strong in film, where these incredible roles were written for women like Joan Crawford, like Bette Davis. But then there was a space of time where - I don't know why - it wasn't like that. It became difficult for women to find certain roles after a certain age.

We wanted to do a woman on a reality show because that's what's happening right now-it's part of our culture.

So many roles for women demand that you make the audience fall in love with you or sympathise with you.

There are some strong female performers out there. But the industry's pre-occupation with the packaging of how a woman looks has gone completely the other way, back to almost the 60s, early 70s.

It's not fair that there aren't very many juicy or varied roles for women.

I think women are by nature competitive - secretly, privately within their own selves, on lots of different levels, on the way they look, perform.