You do feel a certain obligation to shows that raise your profile like 'Downton' has. But there are definitely other exciting opportunities out there.

I've never been a fan of directors who clutter a piece with all sorts of crazy preconceptions or weird ideas.

I've been a lucky boy.

It's the challenge of trying to evoke any kind of sympathy for a role that ordinarily we would say, "Oh, this is a bad guy" and dismiss him.

Books are my weakness.

The comfort zone is the great enemy to creativity; moving beyond it necessitates intuition, which in turn configures new perspectives and conquers fears.

I'm shocked at being recognized.