You tell yourself that you're not auditioning but of course you work like crazy, and you prepare like mad. And you think, "Well, I won't get that job. But maybe they'll have another job sometime, and they'll remember that I was good."

A way of describing performances that I admire is that there is an absence of careerism. It's a clumsy way of describing it but it sort of does it for me.

I don't want to associate myself with any specific group of politicians.

In the street, people talk to you about all kinds of things, but by far, the most number of people talk to me about Love, Actually.

When it comes to casual clothing, my enthusiasm for clothes starts to waver.

One of my great regrets, and I don't have many, is that I spent too long putting people's status and reputation ahead of their more important qualities. I learned far too late in life that a long list of letters after someone's name is no guarantee of compassion, kindness, humour, all the far more relevant stuff.

If you ask any actor "What single thing would make you really, really happy?" Among the top five things they'd say is not having to audition anymore.