10 minutes with... Jane Lynch, Glee's ferocious PE teacher

The Dowager in Downton Abbey, played by Maggie Smith, has been described as ‘nothing but a highbrow version of Sue Sylvester’, your character in Glee, does that make you proud?

I love that! To be in the same sentence as Maggie Smith is quite something and I am a big fan of Downton. I always say that Sue Sylvester is a lowbrow imitation of Patty Hewes, Glenn Close’s character in the TV series Damages.

Are people frightened to meet you?

No, kids are actually tickled to death; they want to come over and step into the belly of the beast.

Would you ever voluntarily wear a tracksuit?

No! They are reserved for those Russian guys who hike up the canyons in LA. They fly in from Russia and get their exercise by wearing matching tracksuits and laced-up brogues.

What were your PE teachers like?

As I recall they were all nice ladies, but I had an acting teacher who was one of those people who left a combat boot-sized imprint on your consciousness and she is very much the inspiration for Sue. She sadly passed away, but if she knew, she’d be thrilled; she’d giggle, smack me on the back and probably knock me over.

Did Barack Obama thank you for your support in his presidential campaign?

I got an email from the desk of Barack Obama but I’m sure he’s grateful to everybody. He’s a real stand-up guy and I don’t need a personal note. It was my honour to work for him and I didn’t just work for him, I worked for what he believes in and what I believe in.

Could you see yourself going into politics?

If you had asked me that a year ago, I would have said absolutely not. The more I see, if you go into politics, you have to realise that it’s fricking broken. But I think there are ways to make an impact and if that meant running for office, then I believe I would do it.

What keeps you awake at night?

People texting and driving, and the vulnerability of children. Probably because deep down I believe I am still a child.

Jane stars in Disney’s Oscar-nominated animated film Wreck-It Ralph, which is out on 8 February