Youth makes you brave, I suppose. When you're young, you make a fool of yourself all the time. Because of all the rejections and the criticism you get all the time, there has to be a drive there.

I like doom and gloom with a sense of humour. Maybe it's a Scottish thing, we like to undercut indulgence with a laugh.

I never get the tall, blonde, glamorous roles because I'm not tall, blonde and glamorous. I'm more the wee, disturbing characters because of the way I look or sound.

There is such pressure on kids these days to be the best at everything.

I daydream all the time, and I like that quality.

When I'm doing theatre, I feel like my life's on hold. Even though you might go out for a coffee, or go and see a film, your brain is still there, pulling you back to it.

I'm always nervous taking on a period role because it's difficult to research - you can't observe it, go out and see it. But it's satisfying because eventually you think, 'I got there.

American scripts are usually non-stop conversation. People talking over each other. I like that.

Filming is long - you get very tired, and your skin breaks out and you get lumps and bumps. It's easier if you're allowed to have bags under your eyes.

You suddenly find yourself somewhere and you wonder, how did I get in this room? That happens to me all the time, every day!

I'm not going to get an Oscar at 30 - that's done. So I'll think of something else.

A melancholy lesson of advancing years is the realisation that you can't make old friends.

Trust is like a two-way mirror, transparent on one side, with a blind dimness unable to see through on the other side.

Death defines life. I'd rather stay undefined.

There is no personal achievement in being born beautiful.

Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.

Father and son are natural enemies and each is happier and more secure in keeping it that way.

Yes, I'm proud to be a liberal.

I started my own class for people like me who can't find any place else to go.

If you listen to fools... The Mob Rules!

As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn, The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!