I've played all these extreme guys, but playing an everyman type has its own challenges.

The kind of actors I admire move through different characters and genres.

I can totally understand why people say: 'I'm going to do this T.V. series so that I can buy a flat'. But you've got to see what's of value to you as an actor.

I want to keep everything balanced. That's why it's important not to have too much fanfare.

Really I just want to get on with my job, which is to pretend to be lots of different people. Simple as that.

If one story becomes too hot, then you can't forget it. As an actor, you want to remain fluid.

I do sometimes play characters that are a bit ambiguous. You've got to be brave about that sort of stuff. I like the sense of people not feeling too secure, not immediately knowing what they have in front of them.