If I had a comfort blanket, I wouldn't have been as passionate and driven.

You don't buy evil characters lattes. That's not normal behavior.

Because youve done the horrible jobs, it gives you an even grittier determination to succeed.

My mom and dad put my brother and sister through university and they were very keen for us to have an academic background just to give us a chance.

If youre going to kiss a man, let it be a beautiful man like Ed Speleers.

It's not just modern-day society that is liberal.

My girlfriend is a great support, and I've got a big circle of mates who keep my feet on the ground.

I just want to say thank you to everyone who watched and tuned in and loved my evil gayness.

I'm a working class lad.

Most actors will tell you that villains are the most interesting to play.

I'm proud of the fact that Downton Abbey was born in a recession, at a time when ITV had dropped a lot of drama programmes. And I know that because I was out of work at the time!

...I retreat into my fictional world where everything makes sense - but even there I can't even control what people do...

Evil was coming. I wondered whose face it would be wearing.

What's aero braking? That's a way to use the gravity and upper atmosphere of Earth to sling shot a ship out either deeper into space, or slow it down to be 'captured' by Earth's gravity.

I am far too much in doubt about the present, far too perturbed .about the future, to be otherwise than profoundly reverential about the past.

The best practice is inspired by theory.

I observed a thousand acts of courage, compassion and love [as a POW] and I will always treasure that memory above all others.

I'd been on 'SVU' before and I'd been on 'Criminal Intent,' but I wasn't a follower. Like, my mom watches every episode, even before I was on it.

When I am finished painting, I paint again for relaxation.

I love Philip Glass' work, not only as a film composer but also as a musician. The film score work that he does always amazes and shocks me.

Nature inspires me continually. Today, I can look out my window and see the entire world covered with snow. It's like Narnia under the White Witch.