I've done a lot of costume drama and theatre - the National Theatre and In fact, most of my work at the theatre, at the National Theatre anyway, was period.

When I left drama school, there were dozens of rep theatres you could apply to where you got a good training.

People say to me that I cant be nervous because Ive had such a wealth of experience, but I tell them that I have never done this particular part before.

Even if I hadn't have been nominated for an Oscar, to have won the Golden Glove was just fantastic.

I think behind closed doors people behave differently no matter what period we're looking at, because people have to stand up straight in public but can slouch behind closed doors - can you imagine wearing those corsets?

I've made six films since I made Secrets and Lies but I still live in London and I'd love to do theater.

I hate that people think going to the theatre is a special occasion. I wish people would treat it as normally as going to the cinema.