I always try to put myself in the way of surprise as much as possible. My ambition is to keep challenging myself. I like that journey of discovery.

I think when you don't know where you stand with someone, they can surprise you in their goodness and their badness, and that makes them human.

Liverpool will always be my home.

All my good friends are actors, really. It's different when you have a family, but they're still the people I meet most often. My best friend is Ian Hart, but then I've known him since I was five.

I'm no good at down-time. I panic slightly and then plan a project or set up a meeting about starting a project.

I've moved into directing as well as acting, and it has taught me never to take casting personally.

In all honesty, we all want our fantasy selves to be the best people. We all think in a time of crisis, we will react heroically and with humanity.