It’s the same as any role and I find that you can’t lump characters together; because they all have different life experiences, different reasons for being the way they are.

I’ve made six films since I made Secrets and Lies but I still live in London and I’d love to do theater.

Everyone the world over talks about British actors and British talent and I think that’s because we were trained – until now – in theatre.

Maybe wanting to retire is my ambition.

The academy awards in England; it’s a classy affair as well.

Even if I hadn’t have been nominated for an Oscar, to have won the Golden Glove was just fantastic.

I’ve done a lot of costume drama and theatre – the National Theatre and In fact, most of my work at the theatre, at the National Theatre anyway, was period.

The strange thing is that since I’ve been offered lots of films I think that maybe they think that I’ve sold out to Hollywood. Which is not the case if anybody’s listening.

I like the enthusiasm but not the insincerity of Los Angeles.

It’s a real leveller, you know, to do theatre at least once every two years.

I knew Secrets and Lies was a great film, but I didn’t expect it to get the attention it did because none of his other films had and I thought they were just as good.

I love silence.

Anything where people have to work together makes me cry.

Before every performance, I think I am about to keel over.

People say to me that I can’t be nervous because I’ve had such a wealth of experience, but I tell them that I have never done this particular part before.

It’s the same as any role and I find that you can’t lump characters together; because they all have different life experiences, different reasons for being the way they are.

I’ve never done a big studio film, I’ve only ever done little ones.

I hate that people think going to the theatre is a special occasion. I wish people would treat it as normally as going to the cinema.

In fact at home I sometimes like to be quiet and hear the sounds of the world outside.

I always considered myself very successful even before the success of Secrets and Lies.

I think people often confuse success with fame and stardom.

I think behind closed doors people behave differently no matter what period we’re looking at, because people have to stand up straight in public but can slouch behind closed doors – can you imagine wearing those corsets?

I always think 12 times before saying anything.

When I left drama school, there were dozens of rep theatres you could apply to where you got a good training.

Being a secretary was considered a very good job in those days.