I'd say that, to be a good deal maker, you have to have three basic characteristics - timing, timing, and timing.

You have to remove your human sentiment when it comes to greed and the accumulation of wealth.

What could be better in al-Qaeda's mind than to have India and Pakistan going at each other? What more to further their aims?

I can work hard and be disciplined like a soldier, but I could never reach their level of fitness. I have a whole new appreciation of soldiers. I saw myself on screen and thought, 'That body is so not hard enough to be a soldier.'

I did mega-training with ex-military men. I'd be in the gym for two hours after a 12-hour day on Spooks, and it was so hardcore I'd throw up. I stuffed myself with food and drank protein shakes to bulk up. I used to be a dancer, but I had to strap my weak ankles every day and strengthen my wrists so I could hold a machine gun. My body just wasn't up to it.

I'm the only honest person in Washington.

Iran has interest in seeing that the Shia population of Iraq basically adhere to a line that comes from Iran.