I went being unemployed for three years to being the lead in a British feature in the days when we only made two a year, 1990. It was ridiculous really.

I heard the various terms of abuse at school and probably indulged them in the way you do as a kid.

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.

I had to help to coax the performances and I really enjoyed that extra responsibility.

Often as a child you see someone with a learning disability or Down's Syndrome and my mum and dad were always very quick to explain exactly what was going on and to be in their own way inclusive and welcoming.

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

What goes down on film is different to what you see with the naked eye.