I was really attracted to doing Game of Thrones because I thought the character of Meera was absolutely amazing.

Everyone loves a slice of period-drama-pie, but I think the success of Upstairs Downstairs is really down to the wonderful format that Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins created.

My parents are big Shakespeare fans.

There's no point starting something you don't intend to finish.

I was really attracted to doing 'Game of Thrones' because I thought the character of Meera was absolutely amazing.

There are certain songs, and books, and films that are like points of high ground in the memory. Like they are even larger than your own experiences. They never go away.

There seemed to be endless obstacles ... it seemed that the root cause of them all was fear.

Once you hear the details of victory it is hard to distinguish it from a defeat.

I always think you've just got to move on. If you keep wallowing in the thing that you've done for a while you get a bit stale.

If airline seat cushions are such great flotation devices, why don't you ever see anyone take one to the beach?

I've always said that gray hair looks good on everybody but yourself. To me, it makes me look old.

I like being nostalgic and maybe crying a little bit.

Keep the juices flowing by jangling around gently as you move.

I think the freedom to express one's views is more important than intellectual property.

At 4, I joined a summer rec team called the Sugar Bears.