In order to make any kind of living, you cannot afford to say no. If anything comes up, you've got to take it; you've got to grab it with both hands because security is really not there.
I can't explain something I saw on holiday on Holy Island when I was about nine years old, but do you know what, it could have been my PE teacher dressed in a monk's habit. I have no idea. I'm not a ghost person... it doesn't mean there aren't unexplained things; I just don't think they're ghosts.
I remember when I was about 12, I read M. R. James' 'Ghost Stories Of An Antiquary' under the covers, way too young to fully understand what was going on with those stories - completely terrified but absolutely loved them.
I love ghost stories but kind of left them alone after my teens and came back to it after playing Heathcliff in 'Wuthering Heights' on the radio.
'The Thirteenth Tale' is reminiscent of 'Wuthering Heights' because you're never sure if it's a ghost or if people have gone a bit mad; that feeling that's been channelled all the way from Bronte is a really exciting one.
'Spamalot' was a blip! I've never done anything else like that, and yet it's the only time I've ever been nominated for an Olivier award!
You have to make decisions - you know what you think. That doesn't mean the audience are aware of your decisions or what you think - the lines you're saying may have ambiguity.
I love doing research.
I suppose I became in danger of overexposure, which is why, I think, doing theatre for a year is quite a sensible move - just to remember what it's all about, really.
You can get a bit 'head in the clouds' - well, I do - and full of myself if I stick in front of the camera for too long. I forget there is hard work that needs to be done.
I would leave the industry in a moment if I thought I was going to get stuck in one particular area of it.
If you can sit all generations of a family down and entertain them and, at the same time, leave them talking about existential notions, then that's fantastic.
You've got to take what comes. You've got to make yourself available for everything; you've got to pray that you're in a position to do the jobs when they come around.
I love ghost stories. I remember when I was about 12, I read M. R. James' 'Ghost Stories Of An Antiquary' under the covers, way too young to fully understand what was going on with those stories, completely terrified but absolutely loved them.
