No one should ever feel sorry for me. Ive been treated very well for the most part.

The only thing worse than a loser is someone who won't admit he played badly.

I have talked to more people who are in politics who have said to me, "[House of Cards] is closer than you can imagine. It's the most accurate description of how politics actually works that we've ever seen." I mean, West Wing - beautiful, wonderful idea of how democracy should work. But I've had more people in politics say they think House of Cards is closer. I - don't know whether to take that as a compliment or a sad state of affairs.

People have different reasons for the way they live their lives. You cannot put everyone's reasons in the same box.

Whether its Veep or Homeland or The West Wing - which is a more idealised version of democracy - people are fascinated by politics.

Have we become so celebrity-obsessed that there is no longer a difference between a character and an actor? I hope not.

I have done films where we all thought the director didn't know what he was doing and it is going to be a gobble gobble turkey. And you go and watch it and it is great.