I just loved the whole idea of being an actor.

Nobody's really unsympathetic, I think. People do good and bad things. If a character's totally unsympathetic, they're not real and I'm not interested. Even the real monsters have to have a spark of something you can relate to.

Nobody's just arrogant. I've met people who are embattled and dismissive, but when you get to know them, you find that they're vulnerable - that that hauteur or standoffishiness is because they're pedaling furiously underneath.

The actor in me would always like to be more dashing, or slimmer, or have nicer hair.

I've worried more and more as the years have gone on. The more you're seen to be doing well, the more stress there is. You feel you ought to consider things more, and be more fussy - there's further to fall. All these little worries.

I'd auditioned for the National Youth Theatre and I didn't get a place and it was terrifying.

I think people ought to do what they feel useful at the time. If I do things because I ought to do them, I switch off.