Lets start at the top and do vital statistics!

If I were asked to describe myself, it would be something along the lines of: Intelligent, confident, sometimes fiesty but witty transgendered Woman who initally struggled to find herself but has now found who she is in the world and wants to share and enjoy her happiness with others.

My Top 10 films. I believe you can tell alot about a person is like from the thing's they like. So here is my Top 10 Film's, although probably not definitive and open to change, these are films that I found wonderfully enjoyable, deeply emotional or otherwise powerful.

1.		Brief Encounter, 1946 - A story of love, recrimination and reconciliation.
2.		City of God , 2002 - The real story of 2 boys from Rio de Janeiro's slums
3.		The Third Man, 1949 - Film Noir never looked so good!
4.		The Quiet American, 2001 - A very relevant film for today...
5.		Secrets & Lies, 1996 - English kitchen sink - fab!
6.		High Fidelity, 2000 - I want to own a record store with John Cussack!
7.		The Croupier, 1998 - Clive Owen - pharr!
8.		Casablanca, 1942 - Dark and mysterious romance
9.		The End of the Affair, 1999 - I love Graham Greene and Neil Jordan
10.		Pretty Woman, 1990 - Isn't this every TS' fave film?
11.		le diner de con, 1998 - The worlds funniest film and French
Others definitely worth mentioning: Moulin Rouge, Apocalypse Now, Notting Hill, Ice Cold in Alex, The Crying Game, Repo Man, Trainspotting, Dr Strangelove, Sunset Boulevard, The Three Amigos, With Nail and I and Breakfast at Tiffanys

People I admire. These are a selection of people who I think are/were to some degree strong influences on me or whose work I find very interesting. (Please note; these are in no particular order, just in case one of these celebs drops by and is offended by their rank).

	Janet Street Porter
	Janet Street Porter has long been heralded as both a genius and fool of the UK media for over 20 years. With her Narna Miskori looks and distinctive smile, she has worked on bring a wide number of innovative programmes to Television, particularly in the 'yoof' TV sector she championed long before it was trendy. I admire Janet because she isn't afraid to innovate. If it fails, she has the maturity to walk away and try something else.
	Jarvis Cocker
	Jarvis Cocker is the greatest man alive? Discuss. Sheffield's number one man of 'geek chic' has not only managed to survive the same band for over 20 years (Pulp), fame, depression and the wrath of Micheal Jackson scorned. And in this time he has managed to write songs with the most banal lyrics (e.g. such as 'skillfully avoiding the dog turd outside the corner shop') and yet they speak with such clarity of issues we have all faced in growing up and growing older. Vote Jarvis!
	Graham Greene
	I have never been a prolific reader, I often tire of books to early and don't persist. However on discovering Greene's work I have become lifetime fan, working my way through all his novels and autobiographies. He was once described as 'the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man's consciousness and anxiety'. Whilst many of his books have made wonderful films (Third Man, Quiet American) I have always though his greatest strength was to be able to distill complex feelings and insightful observations into words.
	Gina McKee
	I am not sure when I became aware of Gina McKee's work. I think it was in the BBC's series 'Our Friend's In The North' but since then I have enjoyed her work in the film 'The Croupier' (see above) and 'Notting Hill'. Gina is rapidly emerging as a serious British actor of the new millenium, unfortunately a little type-cast as 'rent-a-northerner' she has tremendous talent to convey the emotion necessary for hard hitting drama. More please.
	Morecambe & Wise
	As a child of the 1970s, I was brought up with light entertainment on TV. The undisputed King's of this genre were(are) Morecambe & Wise with their tight combination of in-jokes, routines, purposely contrived sketches. Many have since been compared to the fabulous pair (e.g. Reeves and Mortimer, Ant and Dec), but not many have the chemistry nor talent to create the pair that the comic Eric and the straight Ernie managed for over 20 years.
	Nicole Kidman
	Miss Nicole Kidman! Well girl you are much better off without that terrible Cruise fella even if you both gave us hope that some Hollywood marriages can survive. In my humble opinion, she is one of the World's most beautiful women, stylish, elegant and totally gorgeous. If only she could be my friend. Think of the gossip from the parties she went to and the clothes you could borrow! Several wonderful films, but my favourite must be 'Moulin Rouge' for the costumes, score, tack and the chemistry with Master MacGregor.
	Kirsty Wark
	I'm not sure why Kirsty Wark proved to have any influence on my life. I think it was seeing that a woman could be attractive, intelligent and have a career. Kirsty has for many years appeared on our screens in BBC's Newsnight. She also runs a successful media company. In my ideal world, Kirsty would be my clever intellectual friend who would pop round for coffee and spill the beans about a politican's indiscretions and who that in actual fact Jeremy Paxman was a closet Morris Dancer. Ok, maybe not then.
	Julianne Moore
	The first film I became really of the talents of Miss Moore in Neil Jordan's 'End of the Affair', please forgive me Miss Moore. I found her performance was incredibly strong and convincing (that accent!). I am now a big fan and have watched several more of her films including Magnoilia and her most recent 'Far From Heaven'.
	Belle and Sebastian
	Belle and Sebastian are the musical equivalent of Marmite! Either you love them or hate them. This situation all probably came about because of the 1998(?) Brits Award that was allegedly contrived by B&S fans voting multiple times for them. Discuss. Anyway, to cut a boring tale short I first got into them with their 'Boy with the Arab Strap' (I am still not certain what an Arab Strap is, can anyone help?). Their music is like 'baby food', soft and very very digestable. Deep lyrics made light and fluffy by soft, inviting melodies. I now have bought most of their albums and seen them live. Like most other B&S fans I found myself being pulled deeper and deeper into them, but I don't mind because they make me smile so much. :)
	Dr Perry Cox (aka John C McGinley)
	Well I am sure you can forgive including a little 'eye candy' in this list? John plays Dr Perry Cox on TV's Scrubs (Sky, C4) and there is something so sexy about his strong fatherly-figure manner, athletic build, blue eyes, brown curly hair and sense of humour that really turns me to jelly. Now I do know that this is just TV, but if I would love to be intern Elliot Reid who moons around after Dr Cox whilst he condescends her mistakes with names like 'Barbie'. Yes, sign me up I want to be Dr Perry Cox's blonde Barbie! In real-life, John has starred in several critically acclaimed films including 'Any Given Sunday' and 'Platoon'. He also does lots of charity and awareness work for Down Syndrome children, a condition from which his own son suffers. Arr bless!