If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush.

Meaning of the quote

This quote is saying that if Dawn French had lived in the time when the famous painter Rubens was creating his artwork, she would have been considered a great model for him to paint. On the other hand, the thin and tall model Kate Moss would have been more like the paintbrush Rubens used to make his paintings, rather than the subject of the paintings. The quote is suggesting that beauty standards have changed over time, and what was seen as the ideal body type for models and paintings has evolved.

About Dawn French

Dawn French is a renowned British actress, comedian, and writer known for her work on the BBC sketch comedy series ‘French and Saunders’ and the sitcom ‘The Vicar of Dibley’. She has been nominated for several BAFTA TV Awards and won a BAFTA Fellowship with her comedy partner, Jennifer Saunders, in 2009.

More about the author

More quotes from Dawn French

I am not, I repeat, NOT a lesbian – even though I’d like to be one when I grow up.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

I never do any television without chocolate. That’s my motto and I live by it. Quite often I write the scripts and I make sure there are chocolate scenes. Actually I’m a bit of a chocolate tart and will eat anything. It’s amazing I’m so slim.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

In actual life I am a grumpy old bag.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

It was fantastic to work in Cornwall partly because my family live there so I was able to do lots of visiting and eat lots of cake. They live all over Cornwall and all over Devon.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

I want to do something where I play Judi Dench’s younger sister or daughter.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

I’d like to play a horse, many people think I already have. Either end of the horse would be fine.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

The person I have admired the most in comedy terms would be Eric Morecambe, who is my total hero.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

We have to do a film parody for Comic Relief. We can’t decide which film to parody at the moment. Any ideas welcome, but not Spiderman owing to costume being too tight.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

I have had the unfortunate experience of having someone write an unauthorised biography of me. Half of it is lies and the other half is badly written. My feeling is that if I’m going to write my life story, I ought to have my life first.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

I keep my own personality in a cupboard under the stairs at home so that no one else can see it or nick it.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

It was my father who taught me to value myself. He told me that I was uncommonly beautiful and that I was the most precious thing in his life.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

Turn up your radio. Watch lots of telly and eat loads of choc. Feel guilty. Stay up all night. Learn everything in six hours that has taken you two years to compile. That’s how I did it.

Dawn French

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)