I was just doing bits and pieces of acting in the UK. I'd been in the film Breaking and Entering - Anthony Minghella gave me my start and I miss him dearly. Then I made the trip out to LA, during one of their pilot seasons, which was when they were developing Gossip Girl, and I auditioned, and things came together.

When I need to think of, like, a peaceful scene or something, I think of my back garden in summertime. And whenever I hear the lawnmower next door, I always think it's really peaceful.

I've always connected with music. Life's not always what you see; it's what going on in your head. Music is what comes out of your subconscious.

This is my trademark: I rip my T-shirt. I’m into the whole showing-a-bit-of-chest-hair thing.

Music gets inside you, music captures you. Music becomes your heartbeat. It’s a drug and makes you feel whatever the song’s about.

It's very difficult to juggle two careers, unless you're going to have someone put it all together for you. Because you're on TV, somebody just gives you a record deal - that's not how I'd want to get it, because it's just not real.

I'm a rock 'n' roll guy, really. I'm a big fan of Elvis. I got "Heartbreak Hotel" tattooed on my chest.