New York City is crazy and beautiful and really close to my heart, and I've always had dear friends here - family, actually, I would say.

I think playing any iconic role when you're stepping into big shoes, into the shadow of people who have come before you and you can't process that.

I am also full of admiration for Chelsea Manning [formerly PFC Bradley Manning]. Regardless of which side of the argument you're on, he stood up for something he felt wasn't right. That was an extraordinarily brave thing to do, and I think he was unfairly punished for it. It's a really big deal what he did, and he did it for the betterment of all us, including the soldiers on the ground, as well as the civilians caught up in those conflicts.

Mystique is rare now, isn't it? There aren't that many enigmas in this modern world.

I'm not one for doing the children's party version: "Hi, I'm a character in a movie and now I'm in reality!" I was doing the last shot of the film before reshoots outside their shop. I was starting my run into the frame and I thought, "You are literally ending where this began. The loop of serendipity's too much to not go in and acknowledge it." I just wanted to see the look on their faces.

I tend to have a cup of tea, try to stop worrying about what I did wrong, cool down and will the audience back in as soon as possible.

I had the privilege of being able to choose, or at least have the opportunity to work at, being anything but an actor.