I was coming from a very cerebral, dark, difficult, layered play by Christopher Hampton and doing an action movie in Hollywood (Die Hard) with explosions, and I was holding a gun.

I was 7, and I remember being given a part in a play and thinking, This is exciting.

When I am asked about influences, I always say I bow down to Fred Astaire, because when you look at him dancing you never look at his extremities, do you? You look at his centre. What you never see is the hours of work that went into the routines, you just see the breathtaking spirit and freedom.

I think every English actor is nervous of a Newcastle accent.

I have this feeling that if I could sort out what's on my dining room table, everything would fall into place.

My parents certainly didn't have anything to do with the theater. I'm some kind of accident.

Actors are actually very supportive of each other.