When you're telling a story, I think you should tell it to its fullest, with reckless abandon, and absolutely let it be what it is.

If you're not still learning and growing as an actor, then you have no backbone and no career

I was the kid who never won the races. I never jumped the highest. I wasn't on the list of the high-achieving.

I'm often drawn to characters that are more obviously one thing. They're passionate, and there is always an element of strength because I think every person possesses that in some way, even if they've experienced hardship in their lives.

It's very tempting to have a nanny and live in a gated community and have a chef - I'd love to have a few dinners cooked for me. But I don't want that for my children. When they're older, if people say to them, 'Did you have a chef?' I want them to be shocked by the question.

There are moments to indulge and enjoy, but I always know when it's time to go home and wash my knickers.

I love it when a character requires me to look less than my red-carpet best.