I read everything. I've always got a book on the go and I'm really nerdy about it, I get through books and don't remember anything about them afterwards. But I read all sorts, from classic to contemporary.

I think loads of people see acting, when they're kids, as these magical stories that just happen within the context of the film or the play or the cartoon or whatever they're seeing. They don't imagine that there are actually people that go and do that for a living.

I've played an awful lot of repressed people.

One aspect of my mum's personality that has influenced me is her love of Hollywood and the golden era of black-and-white films.

Lentil dhal is the only thing I can cook.

I suppose the reason why I like acting is because I'm curious about human nature, and the less I know about a character on the page, instinctively, in a way, the better.

My childhood was very colourful, and I am very good friends with both my parents. We have no secrets.