I think theatre is by far the most rewarding experience for an actor. You get 4 weeks to rehearse your character and then at 7:30 pm you start acting and nobody stops you, acting with your entire soul.

Lots of middle class people are running around pretending to be Cockney.

I wasn't always such a great fan of Shakespeare, mind you. I can guess we all at one time had it rammed down our necks at school, which tends to take the edge off it.

I care more about telly because it made me an actor and there's a much more immediate response to TV. You can address the political or cultural fabric of your country.

The person who gives you your first job is so important in any industry.

I used my instincts. It's very easy to imagine how you'd feel, actually. I just had to tell the narrative.

We like to think that our parents made a decision to bring us into the world.