Villains are very, very boring to do. They're so much easier than heroes.

I'm not looking and I don't go hunting. I'm the type who's got to be found.

The provocation with Holmes is the fact that he's described by Doyle as a man without a heart - all brain... and that's very difficult to play, or even indicate.

Villains are very, very boring to do. They're so much easier than heroes.

The most important thing when you're working with greatness is to learn from it, not challenge it.

Holmes has become the dark side of the moon for me. He is moody and solitary and underneath I am really sociable and gregarious. It has all got too dangerous.

To me, the Sherlock Holmes stories are about a great friendship. Without Watson, Holmes might well have burnt out on cocaine long ago. I hope the series shows how important friendship is.