I got my Equity card and agent before I ever went to drama school.
— Ray Fearon
Anything that brings people to see Shakespeare is fine by me. He's the great humanist.
Great actors - it's got nothing to do with colour.
I now go to my dad's grave to read scripts and learn lines. It's the most peaceful place. I go to see him, and it's fantastic.
A lot of my ex-girlfriends would say I've been a rubbish boyfriend.
You only learn if you're given a crack at things.
I can guarantee this to you: every single actor has had a dream of walking on stage on press night and realising that they don't know their lines.
I like curvy women. But obviously, a sense of humour is the most important thing. And there's nothing sexier than a girl who is comfortable in her own skin.
I like people who enjoy life. I can't stand women who play games. I lose interest very quickly. I prefer up-front honesty.
On your journey, don't forget to smell the flowers. Take time out to notice that you're alive. You can only live in one day.
If I lose touch with that... the reason why I act... then I'll leave it all. I don't do it for fame or money.
When you're playing your part, you don't watch other people - you just play your part.
I only ever agreed to appear in 'Corrie' for two months, but I ended up staying a lot longer. I really enjoyed it.
I'd like to meet someone. I'm not scouring the streets, but I'll keep an eye out.
When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.
I just want to work on good scripts.
I normally go through every single line as part of my warm-up before a show. When I'm working on a film or TV programme, there often isn't a rehearsal, so I tend to learn my lines much later. They are often shorter, too, so they're essentially just there.
Evening dinner dates can cloud your judgment.
My father died from a heart attack. He was the sort of person who wouldn't complain. The symptoms are not heavy - a bit of chest pain, arm strain, or indigestion. People ignore those symptoms because they think it's trivial. Don't feel afraid to come forward.
I'm a member of BAFTA, so I vote in all the films that come up for the Academy Awards.
In modern life, we hide behind ourselves. In Shakespeare, there's nowhere left to hide. It's life, larger than life, and every actor has to raise their game to get there.
I went to the RSC, and I became a leading actor.
I loved playing a character that women fancied.
I suppose I've been selfish in the past and put my career first. But priorities change.
I gave up tennis to study, but not before it had shown me how to focus and concentrate. It taught me self-discipline: I was playing four or five hours a day and doing five-mile runs. When I stopped, my energy had to be channelled into something else.
The script looks huge when you first get it, but you just have to go home and drill the lines out. The more you read it, the shorter it gets. I usually read it at least four times.
The important thing with memorising a part is not to force it. Sometimes when you're rehearsing, you'll think it's not going in, but it is. On stage, you have to trust that the lines are there, because they are. The real challenge is to relax.
I'm shy; I work hard.
Isn't it annoying when your face doesn't do what you want it to express?
