Actors have to remind people that they can do different things, not just the same style of one role.

My vanity is I'm terribly romantic! But being married is lovely.

The security comes, as an actor, in knowing that you're not in control. If you try to control your career, or how people perceive you, you'll make yourself unhappy, because life doesn't work like that. So much is luck. It's much better to let yourself off, to think, 'There's nothing I can do.'

I wouldn't want to leave it so long before doing a play again, I get very stolid and sluggish if I do too much telly.

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.

It must be odd, being recognizable. I would hate to lose that anonymity.

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