Most of the time I was in the background. I never played [the Virgin] Mary. I was always kind of the third angel.

But since doing the film ["The Invisible Woman"] I've really learned to appreciate [Charles Dickens], he's phenomenal. "Great Expectations" would be one of my favorites.

I like Nelly's [Ternan] quiet inner strength. I thought there was something about her predicament that I found interesting - that she didn't want to be a floozy mistress, a bit on the side, that she had more self-respect than that.

The British vice is overthinking before we speak, which is really annoying. I love the way that, in America, people are more straightforward. The American vice would be sometimes speaking too loudly. You can always hear American people on the trains!

I've always been a feminist, and what I love in my work is being able to explore a full-sided woman and not patronize her.

I like to keep pushing myself and trying things out. I get easily bored, so I need a challenge.

I feel like with acting it's not like you make a choice - it's kind of in you and you have to do it or you wouldn't be able to survive.