Getting older and having kids, you learn how to become less serious about it all.

I don't think you should feel guilty about pleasure. Defeats the purpose.

With fantasy and sci-fi, it's based in a real fandom. You're presenting to experts, and their source material is really important to them.

There's nothing more exciting for an actor than a chance to lose, to be someone who has lost - especially if it's someone who starts off with a veneer of control. To be broken is wonderful.

Getting the role in '300' saved me. I'd been out of work for 11 months after 'The Brothers Grimm.' Once the film came out and didn't do so well, the director Terry Gilliam blamed me for absolutely everything. It was pretty appalling, and I had started to wonder if I'd ever get another job again when I was asked to audition for '300.

I'm 40 next year and I'm very well aware that where I am now, it becomes a bit of a wilderness for actresses.

I think I cry when I'm angry. I let it go that way.