Solomon Northup is one of the most remarkable people Ive ever encountered in my life; one of the most amazing stories I have ever been in any kind of contact with. To not tell that story would have been disgraceful, in my opinion.

I like to disappear into a role. I equate the success of it with a feeling of being chemically changed.

In England, theres no acknowledgement the invention of slavery came from Britain.

I was already devouring literature and I was the ripe old age of 15 when I decided to be an actor. I just thought plays were the most fantastic way of expressing life. I thought I'd discovered Shakespeare - 'hey, there's a new guy in town, don't know if anyone's read him.' I was just excited about the whole thing, from day one.

That global poverty would end. That people would be able to eat. It's the worst shame in the world that people go hungry.

A lot of people ask me about my father's passing when I was young, which I'm never comfortable with. I invariably move around that subject.

Ive always liked the idea of being a father. And Ive always romanticised it, because I lost my father when I was young. In a way, all of the complications that come with my career are about that.