Character on the couch: Mary, Queen of Scots
Each week we subject one of drama's great personalities to psychoanalysis. Today Mary Queen of Scots is played by Janet McTeer. The psychiatrist is Leo Benedictus.
So, how are you feeling today? All right. I'm very, very bored of being in this prison. I've come to the conclusion that my mission on this earth is to die as a Catholic martyr. I have to do it properly, otherwise my whole life will have been for nothing.
OK. That's a lot to worry about. What do you think might go wrong? Everyone is terrified that if I'm executed, England will be invaded in revenge for my death. So I'm afraid they'll come in and kill me in the night and say I had a heart attack. And they won't let me have a priest, so if I die without absolution then I'll go to hell.
I can tell that religion is very important to you. Absolutely. England should be Catholic. The whole world should be Catholic.
Martyrs carry a lot of responsibility. The Queen of Scots can take it, but how about Mary? Is she suffering? Yes. I am disappointed that I haven't heard from my son. (Sighs.) He was taken away when he was very small, and is now surrounded by advisors who are bringing him up Protestant.
And you have a difficult relationship with your cousin Elizabeth, too.
She's chosen to be single and not to have any children, and she's done that in order to keep power. If I'm honest, I'm jealous of that. But I'm a queen too! It's my natural position to be the most powerful person in the land.
That's the Queen of Scots talking. What does Mary think? I'd much rather have been born a nice middle-class lady who could marry a nice husband and have lots of lovely children. But I was brought up a strong woman and I've let myself down.
This is men, isn't it? This is all about the men in your life. (Exasperated) Oh, completely. I've been married three times, and apart from François, they were useless. Now I have this reputation as a great femme fatale, and I don't know where I got it from.
Well, they all died within ... Oh, that was 20 years ago!
I'm afraid our time is up now. I hope they find you a priest.
Are you Catholic?
No. I'm Jewish.
Never mind.
· Janet McTeer is appearing in Mary Stuart at the Apollo, London (0870 890 1101), until January 14.