This movie addresses how important it is that we maintain some of our childlike qualities. How have you managed to do that?
In terms of holding on to my childhood, I've always felt that through riding motorcycles and bicycles and going on adventures I've been able to retain that. In this film Pooh talks about the best thing about nothing is that it often leads to the very best something. I'm very like that on my days off an the weekend. I've always been a bit childish like that. I find myself doing different things keep me feeling young. Now with my own kids, I'm obviously sharing those things with them.
How would you describe your childhood?
I had a childhood very similar to Christopher Robin's. I grew up in a small town called Crieff, in Scotland. Crieff is built on a hillside and above that is a town in the woods called The Knock. I spent most of my childhood up in those woods. I would ride horses and work in the stables there in return for free rides. And then me and my mates would build dens up there. And we did exactly what Pooh says: I'd leave the house in the morning and I'd go off on my bicycle and meet my mate, Eric. We'd go up into the woods and then I'd ride back home around 6pm and I'd have spent all day out there. I'd go with a little sandwich. I don't really know what we did but it was fun.
Did you have a toy or a friend that you couldn't live without?
That would have to be my little dog. I grew up with a Beagle called Juno. I think we got her when I must have been 5. I remember vividly the day that she arrived. My parents took me and my brother out to the garden. We didn't know what was happening, and then they told us to close our eyes and then when we opened our eyes, there was a puppy running around. From that moment I went everywhere with her.
What's one of your standout memories of being a child?
Like Christopher, I ran away from home. I was angry because I'd wanted to go for a picnic and my mum was looking after me and my brother and she was busy. And I said, "Let's go for a picnic." And she rolled her eyes and said, "Another time." And I took exception to that. So I said, "That's it. I'm leaving home!" She went, "Okay, but take the dog." And she made me a sandwich and gave me a bottle of milk and she put it in a backpack and she handed me the dog. So, I walked up into the woods and I remember sitting there with Juno eating the sandwich. I thought, 'This is great! Running away from home feels so great and free.' And a friend of our family walked by with his dogs and he went, 'What are you doing? I said, 'I've run away from home.' He said, "Oh, well that's good. Enjoy yourself." And off he went. Eventually I finished the sandwich and the milk and thought, "Well, I'll go home now." And so I just went home. My mum always says that she gave me the dog because she knew I'd have to bring the dog home because I wouldn't know what to do with her. So that was funny.
You have four daughters with ages that span from 7 to 22. I wonder what you've learned from parenting? Or what they've taught you?
Having kids forms everything in your life. You live and learn, don't you? And of course you learn from all your experiences and being a parent is the biggest one of your life but your experience with each child is very unique because they're totally different people. They come out totally fully formed and with their own characters. But I think you learn most from your parents. I think you learn very much from the way you've been brought up. Good or bad you decide what you're going to carry forward or not. For me, I was lucky I had great parents and a nice set of moral guidelines.
• Christopher Robin is in theatres now.
