I always define egotistical thoughts as the thoughts I think other people have of me.

Acting was a way of me finding myself, which I think is the case of a lot of actors, regardless of where they come from.

I always think of Gilbert Norrell as being Salieri to Jonathan Strange being Mozart.

I used to do a lot of comedy. I don't know what happened. I think it's my face.

The trick to acting is not to show off, it's to think the thoughts of the character.

I'd love to play a Bond villain. Yeah, I'd love to play a Bond villain. Everyone always says this to me; they always say, 'You've got to be a Bond villain', 'We're going to make you a Bond villain...' But they've never, ever approached me, I've never had a whiff of it. I think I'd love to play a Bond villain; I'd have great fun.