Shakespeare's work is like a good song: you never really forget the main lines.

I had dance training from a very young age, 3 or 4... It taught me how to present myself, about preparation and working in an ensemble, and its something that carries with me to this day.

The last time I cried? My godchildren went to see Taylor Swift in concert and got to meet her. They literally ran toward her and hugged her, and it was amazing. I got big bonus points for it. I'll remind them when they're teenagers.

My mum taught me always to see the funny side of things.

I don't mind wearing a corset; it informs your posture, changes the way you move, you can't slouch.

I think the success of 'Downton' is partly because there are effectively 18 leading characters, all given equal importance, so it's enormously involving on many levels. But also, it's a new story. It's not like Dickens or Austen, where everyone knows the denouement.

I love cycling, but if I could find a way of building something above the streets for cyclists, that would be amazing. We need even more space.