I took a gamble in becoming an actor and my dream job has been realised.

I think great humor lies in playing the truth of a situation.

I left school at 16 but I wish I'd gone to university - I think I would have studied English literature. I had a knack for that. But I don't think you have the kind of wisdom at 16 to make that decision.

You cant be a casual observer of something humorous - you have to engage, you have to find it funny for the relationship between actor and audience to work.

It's not something that's at the forefront of my mind, but I think I'd regret it if I didn't have children.

I can pretty much say all of us know when 'Downton' is going to end. This is a show with a finite life.

You get a lot of people requesting photographs but I tend to keep myself to myself, pull my cap down.