My parents are very proud of my success but still worry, as Im in a profession where there is no guarantee of work. They have always supported my decision to go into acting, but there have been tough times work-wise.

British people are surprised that I'm British!

At school, I was the classroom clown - I was always being thrown out for being naughty. Before I left, a teacher called me in and suggested I became an actor.

New York is vibrant, sexy, naughty, always surprising, and has great live music and great fashion.

Working at the National Theatre is just wonderful. There is no place like the South Bank on a summer's afternoon.

I always get this feeling on my last day of work that I'm never going to work again.

Art is all about the experience. I could say I dont really relate to opera, but then you watch Placido Domingo, and you go, Blimey, look at that.