The idea of having dreams that don't come true is really terrifying.
The idea of having dreams that don't come true is really terrifying.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, time travel's a nightmare. Don't go down that path.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, time travel's a nightmare. Don't go down that path.
Most of the time, I do what I'm offered, but after I worked for it. I think I try much harder for th...
Show more »
Most of the time, I do what I'm offered, but after I worked for it. I think I try much harder for the things that scare me and inspire me. The things that scare and inspire you are things that are different from what you did before.
Show less «
I've been interested in the writing/directing thing and really fell into acting by complete accident...
Show more »
I've been interested in the writing/directing thing and really fell into acting by complete accident.
Show less «
I get asked to give stuff to my dad. I'm, like, 'I'm not gonna pass your script to him!' You know? M...
Show more »
I get asked to give stuff to my dad. I'm, like, 'I'm not gonna pass your script to him!' You know? My dad's my dad. I'm not his agent.
Show less «
The Coen brothers are amazing; they're special.
The Coen brothers are amazing; they're special.
My dad said, 'If no one was giving me acting work, I'd have to be prepared to create it myself.'
My dad said, 'If no one was giving me acting work, I'd have to be prepared to create it myself.'
When you work with actors, what you're hoping to absorb is good ways to be an actor as opposed to ho...
Show more »
When you work with actors, what you're hoping to absorb is good ways to be an actor as opposed to how to handle being famous.
Show less «
I think the whole thing is: If it makes sense in your head, the audience will go along with it.
I think the whole thing is: If it makes sense in your head, the audience will go along with it.
Really, all I worry about is the work in hand.
Really, all I worry about is the work in hand.
My father is just getting better and better, and that speaks so well of the way he approaches the wo...
Show more »
My father is just getting better and better, and that speaks so well of the way he approaches the work.
Show less «
I'd rather do one day on a really cool movie than six months on something crap.
I'd rather do one day on a really cool movie than six months on something crap.
'Pale Fire' by Vladimir Nabokov was bloody hard work but really thrilling.
'Pale Fire' by Vladimir Nabokov was bloody hard work but really thrilling.
I was in 'Harry Potter,' and nobody on the street recognizes me from that. Nobody on the street has ...
Show more »
I was in 'Harry Potter,' and nobody on the street recognizes me from that. Nobody on the street has ever stopped me from 'Harry Potter!'
Show less «
Look at Cillian Murphy: 'Batman,' 'Tron'... those are some heavy-hitting franchises. But he works hi...
Show more »
Look at Cillian Murphy: 'Batman,' 'Tron'... those are some heavy-hitting franchises. But he works his way around it. He manages to have a great career and a great life.
Show less «
Fail again, fail better.
Fail again, fail better.
It was when I was on stage that I realized that acting could be such a brilliant job.
It was when I was on stage that I realized that acting could be such a brilliant job.
It's nice to sit down when you're not working. I try to do it as often as possible.
It's nice to sit down when you're not working. I try to do it as often as possible.
No one can give me advice on 'Star Wars' because nobody knows what I'm doing in 'Star Wars.'
No one can give me advice on 'Star Wars' because nobody knows what I'm doing in 'Star Wars.'
Angelina Jolie is just an extremely talented, generous, nice person to be around and to work with.
Angelina Jolie is just an extremely talented, generous, nice person to be around and to work with.
I find looking forward scary because you might die.
I find looking forward scary because you might die.
Life is difficult for everyone; everyone has bad days. Everyone has trouble in their life, because i...
Show more »
Life is difficult for everyone; everyone has bad days. Everyone has trouble in their life, because it doesn't matter how rich you are: Sickness and trouble and worry and love, these things will mess with you at every level of life.
Show less «
I stand to learn more working as an actor with really talented people than I do by directing a featu...
Show more »
I stand to learn more working as an actor with really talented people than I do by directing a feature.
Show less «
It's hard to get people up and out to shows, but 'The Walworth Farce' has masses of energy and will ...
Show more »
It's hard to get people up and out to shows, but 'The Walworth Farce' has masses of energy and will attract a crowd who don't always come to the theatre, which is great.
Show less «
I'm pretty lowbrow. It's a failing.
I'm pretty lowbrow. It's a failing.
Two things are always happening in acting. On the one hand, it's a team sport. We're all pulling tog...
Show more »
Two things are always happening in acting. On the one hand, it's a team sport. We're all pulling together. But on the other, you have to look after your own character. Guard their interests.
Show less «
Punch-Drunk Love (2002) is my favorite movie.
Punch-Drunk Love (2002) is my favorite movie.
As an actor, there's very little you can do if people don't want to see you. Just getting yourself i...
Show more »
As an actor, there's very little you can do if people don't want to see you. Just getting yourself into the room to audition is tough.
Show less «
Just because I'm doing 'Star Wars' doesn't mean that'll be the thing that makes people stop me in th...
Show more »
Just because I'm doing 'Star Wars' doesn't mean that'll be the thing that makes people stop me in the street.
Show less «
The Olympia was a really special place for me as a kid. I saw Dad perform there so many times, so it...
Show more »
The Olympia was a really special place for me as a kid. I saw Dad perform there so many times, so it means a lot.
Show less «
I'm a pessimist by nature, so it's always the worst things that come to mind first whenever you make...
Show more »
I'm a pessimist by nature, so it's always the worst things that come to mind first whenever you make a decision or have a decision to make.
Show less «
Going home, spending time with the family, I feel they're my friends as well, all of them. I look fo...
Show more »
Going home, spending time with the family, I feel they're my friends as well, all of them. I look forward to meeting any one of them for a coffee, and when we all get together, I just love it.
Show less «
I'm pleased to say I grew up in a happy family in Dublin. I feel we're very close.
I'm pleased to say I grew up in a happy family in Dublin. I feel we're very close.
[on being cast in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) I'm incredibly excited, but the ...
Show more »
[on being cast in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) I'm incredibly excited, but the only way I can be of value is by ignoring fandom, ignoring the other movies to a certain extent, and just trying to do the best job possible. And I think it will be the same for everyone else.
Show less «
I think everybody's got their insecurities and hang-ups. Everybody! Unless you're an idiot.
I think everybody's got their insecurities and hang-ups. Everybody! Unless you're an idiot.
I got very lucky with 'Harry Potter.' I got that role because I'm a ginger! Red hair was my only qua...
Show more »
I got very lucky with 'Harry Potter.' I got that role because I'm a ginger! Red hair was my only qualification!
Show less «
Portraying as human the people you hear about on the news doing bad things is dangerous. But it's al...
Show more »
Portraying as human the people you hear about on the news doing bad things is dangerous. But it's also necessary and important.
Show less «
If there's one person in the world with whom a chemistry read is unnecessary, it's Rachel McAdams.
If there's one person in the world with whom a chemistry read is unnecessary, it's Rachel McAdams.
'Black Mirror,' I read that, and I had another offer for a movie at the same time that was a bigger ...
Show more »
'Black Mirror,' I read that, and I had another offer for a movie at the same time that was a bigger movie, an actual film as opposed to TV, but I said, 'No, it has to be Black Mirror.' And it hadn't been sold to Netflix, hadn't gone abroad at that point - but it's just good work - that's all there is to it.
Show less «
I've gotten work based on how I look, and I've not gotten work based on how I look. It's all good.
I've gotten work based on how I look, and I've not gotten work based on how I look. It's all good.
There is something wonderful about turning up every day and knowing that not just the character but ...
Show more »
There is something wonderful about turning up every day and knowing that not just the character but the whole movie kind of rests on your shoulders. And there's great satisfaction when you think it's going well and then real terror when you think it's not.
Show less «
Often times, I just do a job and tell my agents, 'I'm in lockdown now.' I won't talk to anybody abou...
Show more »
Often times, I just do a job and tell my agents, 'I'm in lockdown now.' I won't talk to anybody about anything else in the meantime, and I think that's generally the way to go because I also like to have a gap in between jobs.
Show less «
I like cashew nuts.
I like cashew nuts.
My mum and my dad have really good taste in movies. My gran would tape them off the TV and write not...
Show more »
My mum and my dad have really good taste in movies. My gran would tape them off the TV and write notes about them, rating them.
Show less «
I'd seen my dad on stage, and that was fine, but the real excitement was - that was my dad. Even now...
Show more »
I'd seen my dad on stage, and that was fine, but the real excitement was - that was my dad. Even now, when I see his films, he's always my favorite person in the movie.
Show less «
In 'Cavalry' I had one scene where I was playing a pretty awful character.
In 'Cavalry' I had one scene where I was playing a pretty awful character.
I'm not built like a leading man.
I'm not built like a leading man.
I got to work with Cillian Murphy and my dad, Jim Broadbent and Jodie Whittaker on Perrier's Bounty ...
Show more »
I got to work with Cillian Murphy and my dad, Jim Broadbent and Jodie Whittaker on Perrier's Bounty (2009) It was a small part, but it was really special.
Show less «
The rom-com genre is not something that necessarily lights my jets.
The rom-com genre is not something that necessarily lights my jets.
I'm not going to get better as an actor working on bad stuff.
I'm not going to get better as an actor working on bad stuff.
'Star Wars' is different to anything I've done before.
'Star Wars' is different to anything I've done before.
I like Philip Larkin an awful lot; I really like his view on life, and I really connect to it.
I like Philip Larkin an awful lot; I really like his view on life, and I really connect to it.
The whole idea with acting is that you take some risks. And if you take some risks, you're really go...
Show more »
The whole idea with acting is that you take some risks. And if you take some risks, you're really going to mess up sometimes. But it's not OK to mess up a movie; it's not OK to do that just so you can improve as an actor. But film-making takes a little bit of risk in every department.
Show less «
I did Never Let Me Go (2010) and there were amazing people on that. Brilliant writer, director, cast...
Show more »
I did Never Let Me Go (2010) and there were amazing people on that. Brilliant writer, director, cast. That was quite special.
Show less «
I worked with the Coen brothers, which had been a dream of mine.
I worked with the Coen brothers, which had been a dream of mine.
I'm certainly a young actor. I'm certainly those two things. Actually, I'm not even young anymore; I...
Show more »
I'm certainly a young actor. I'm certainly those two things. Actually, I'm not even young anymore; I'm 29. So, I'm an actor.
Show less «
I don't go to premieres I'm not involved in.
I don't go to premieres I'm not involved in.
I do feel a wave come over me when I hear those two words, 'Star' and 'Wars,' said together. I feel ...
Show more »
I do feel a wave come over me when I hear those two words, 'Star' and 'Wars,' said together. I feel tense, shut up, and stare into the middle distance.
Show less «
When I was younger, my father told me not to pigeonhole the way that I perceive myself.
When I was younger, my father told me not to pigeonhole the way that I perceive myself.
Doesn't matter if I'm right or wrong - if I'm hungry or hot, I'm probably arguing with someone about...
Show more »
Doesn't matter if I'm right or wrong - if I'm hungry or hot, I'm probably arguing with someone about something. Especially if that someone is rude.
Show less «
I tend to play 'tortured' a lot, whether it's physically or emotionally.
I tend to play 'tortured' a lot, whether it's physically or emotionally.
Conventionally handsome is not really where I'm at.
Conventionally handsome is not really where I'm at.
I watched a couple of films I was in and thought, 'Those are pretty close to what we wanted them to ...
Show more »
I watched a couple of films I was in and thought, 'Those are pretty close to what we wanted them to be. I feel actually weirdly OK with it all. I can still see flaws in what I'm doing, but I think I delivered. I think I improved the film with my presence.'
Show less «
I'm a little bit drifty. I'm a little bit all over the place.
I'm a little bit drifty. I'm a little bit all over the place.
I like films that are gritty and hard-hitting and suspenseful. Thrillers, too.
I like films that are gritty and hard-hitting and suspenseful. Thrillers, too.
The worst thing as an actor is when you're not getting opportunities to try and show what you can do...
Show more »
The worst thing as an actor is when you're not getting opportunities to try and show what you can do; the best thing is when you get material that really lets you express something and that you're excited about.
Show less «
Has anybody seen The Notebook (2004) and not cried? I don't know, I don't know if that's the case. I...
Show more »
Has anybody seen The Notebook (2004) and not cried? I don't know, I don't know if that's the case. It sort of hangs around for a while.
Show less «
I'd been very certain about not wanting to do the acting thing because of my father. I thought I'd a...
Show more »
I'd been very certain about not wanting to do the acting thing because of my father. I thought I'd always have the father-son thing of 'He got you the part.'
Show less «
I did like 'Star Wars' when I was a kid. I saw the prequels first; I didn't see the full original fi...
Show more »
I did like 'Star Wars' when I was a kid. I saw the prequels first; I didn't see the full original films first all the way through.
Show less «
Normally, in a film with lots of twists and turns, half of them don't make sense; they're just there...
Show more »
Normally, in a film with lots of twists and turns, half of them don't make sense; they're just there for their own sakes.
Show less «
Though rom-coms aren't necessarily my cup of tea, I was a huge fan of Notting Hill (1999). I laughed...
Show more »
Though rom-coms aren't necessarily my cup of tea, I was a huge fan of Notting Hill (1999). I laughed a lot, and the romance got to me.
Show less «
Everyone talks about how we're on our phones all the time, but the fact remains that when I'm away o...
Show more »
Everyone talks about how we're on our phones all the time, but the fact remains that when I'm away on a film set for two months, I can Skype my family. I remember the phone calls my parents had to make when my dad was away for a while when I was younger - that once-a-week expensive phone call! The time pressure on talking to your father!
Show less «
There's so many good comic actors that you just take the best of and try and run with it yourself. T...
Show more »
There's so many good comic actors that you just take the best of and try and run with it yourself. Try and bring a little bit of yourself to it, too.
Show less «
