I'm not getting younger, so there's a commitment to the cause that one has to make

It's really an organic sort of process. You start off with the character on the page. You fall in love with that character and you have to represent that character well and I think it's just an evolution there. Using the accent and speaking the lines with the accent in fact opens the door to who the character really is.

I know there are some actors who are just brilliant at improvising and brilliant at just being in the moment and doing it there and then. I'm not one of those actors.

Being attractive, it's not something I do consciously. It's incredibly flattering that people think I appeal to women. But that was a gift from my parents.

It's interesting - an actor's research is different to just historian's research. I'm looking for things that I can actually physically use in the movie.

You're always going to be more judgmental about your own performance than anyone else.

As an actor, I've always said, half the audience is going to love you, half is going to hate you so just live with it. It's easier that way.