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

My parents were incredibly inclusive.

For me the rehearsal period is the part I most enjoy. It's the creating of the story.

I don't mean this grandly, but it was never my intention to live in L.A. and do a big network show.

You have to go where the good writing is.

Of course the lower classes have always felt downtrodden and aspired to a better life. But there is this theory that people respond to a class structure in England - there was a time when people knew who they were and knew whom they served and as long as management wasn't abusive, it was a good life for people.

I think you can't be really posh and be an interesting actor. I'm a bit of a posh rough.