I've always had a 'Work hard, play hard' attitude to life - I still do - but sometimes you get involved in something that needs a calm, methodical approach.

In the end, there's something of the puritan work ethic about me that roles really must sustain me on an intellectual level.

It's an unfair comparison because when things are developed in the UK, they're developed at script stage only.

You never know when you're taking a job, ever... but you try to take good scripts. That's all you can do as an actor - take the best thing available. Even then, it's not [really] in your control. Certainly not in film and TV, because there are so many other elements. You just have to take control of your own performance.

I love going for a swim. Growing up in England, anywhere with a pool seems like the height of glamour to me.

Acting can be a narrow and isolated experience, because you only examine your particular part.

I guess I'm just good at playing repressed individuals. I'm lucky because those are often the roles that catch people's eyes.