I don't want to sound like Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells, but I do think there should be some sort of national service for young men.

Not only is acting more than a part-time job, it's more than a full-time job. It's a full-time obsession.

You've got to be flexible. Directors do a massive amount of planning and homework, and if after all that your director decides to throw it all out of the window and shoot spontaneously, then you must follow his lead.

I'm very much more choosy now. I do stuff that I really, really, really like.

I never listened to the people who said I should give it up, which is the main advice I got.

I must admit, the only reason I joined an amateur dramatic society is because I couldn't get to kiss any girls - I was chasing girls all the time - and so I thought if I join it, there might be some love scenes. And there was a particular girl and I thought I might get to kiss Amy. I never did get to kiss Amy but I did get to kiss Elizabeth Taylor, so it was all right, a lot later.

I have a knack of making villainous people a little bit sympathetic, a bit of fun on screen.