I was terrible in my first play. After that experience, I had to face that I wasnt good enough to play with the big boys. I had to go away and learn, so I worked in regional theater for three years. I even understudied at the Kennedy Center.

Over a spell of about three years, I played a series of roles that were, for me, all very different, but most of them came out within a six-month period. They all dealt with a kind of dark territory that in some cases had been mined before in movies.

I couldnt imagine something asking as much of me as House Of Cards. Its a great warm-up for coming back to the screen.

When I was young, I learned very early on that I could make my mother laugh. And that was one of the greatest sounds I ever heard.

Mediocrity is the elephant in the room.

People have really long attention spans, and they love complicated plots. TV series are giving the audience what they want.

Talent is only interesting if it's challenged.