The percentage of actors employed is pretty small, and if you're lucky enough to have a good run at it, you do have a sense of responsibility.

For 'The Theory of Everything,' I was quite low down on a list of actors for the role, and I got the opportunity as a consequence of people saying no to it. So I have been very, very lucky.

I wish I could describe anything I do as conscious or strategized. To be honest, in acting, you have so little control. The only control you have is if you're lucky enough to be in a position, which is not very often, in which you have choice. It's about what choices you make, and for me, it's entirely instinctive.

Most actors hate watching their own films because all you can see is the glaring mistakes, your own tricks and ticks.

You're spoilt as an actor if you are in that small percentage that works regularly.

Actors are actors, and there should be a complete fluidity for anyone to play anything.