Theatre is expensive to go to. I certainly felt when I was growing up that theatre wasn't for us. Theatre still has that stigma to it. A lot of people feel intimidated and underrepresented in theatre.

I had bags of energy as a kid.

My parents always knew I was hopeless at everything else, I was fortunate in that I was backed all the way. I came to it late and only because I thought there'd be loads of women and drinking!

The money is better in films and television. But in terms of acting, theatre is more rewarding.

Jacobean plays, before Shakespeare, were particularly visceral.

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