My dad doesn't watch 'Coronation Street.' But my mum is a massive fan. I'd like to think my dad will...
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My dad doesn't watch 'Coronation Street.' But my mum is a massive fan. I'd like to think my dad will watch it for a few token episodes, as I'm in it.
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Because you've done the horrible jobs, it gives you an even grittier determination to succeed.
Because you've done the horrible jobs, it gives you an even grittier determination to succeed.
If I had a comfort blanket, I wouldn't have been as passionate and driven.
If I had a comfort blanket, I wouldn't have been as passionate and driven.
My mom and dad put my brother and sister through university and they were very keen for us to have a...
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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.
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The reason I'm an actor and am trying to make my way in drama is to move people, to affect people, t...
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The reason I'm an actor and am trying to make my way in drama is to move people, to affect people, to gain a response - so these people who come up to you in the street are your audience.
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Working on Downton Abbey (2010) is amazing, but there's an ensemble cast of between 18 and 21 actors...
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Working on Downton Abbey (2010) is amazing, but there's an ensemble cast of between 18 and 21 actors. With 'Love Life,' there are two couples and a few other key characters. As a smaller unit, you've got to take more responsibility - at the same time, you can have more ownership of the direction it's going in.
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If you rile a tiger, he's going to show his claws.
If you rile a tiger, he's going to show his claws.
I'm a working class lad. So at 25, and with no-one in our family having any theatrical inclination, ...
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I'm a working class lad. So at 25, and with no-one in our family having any theatrical inclination, when I said, 'I'm going to scratch all that and become an actor,' I may as well have said I was going to be a Premiership footballer for the chance I'd have.
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Obviously, I play a villain in Downton Abbey (2010). As an actor, you want to get a variety of roles...
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Obviously, I play a villain in Downton Abbey (2010). As an actor, you want to get a variety of roles, so to be offered the part of Joe, it was perfect.
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You know if something is good because you remember the lines because it is written so well. The rhyt...
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You know if something is good because you remember the lines because it is written so well. The rhythm of the speech is spot on.
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Beverly Hills is too intimidating. Everyone's got lovely teeth, so you don't want to smile. Everyone...
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Beverly Hills is too intimidating. Everyone's got lovely teeth, so you don't want to smile. Everyone's ripped, so you start working out at 4 in the morning and eating egg white omelets.
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I went to Huddersfield University Business School. That's where I learned my trade.
I went to Huddersfield University Business School. That's where I learned my trade.
[on his role in Downton Abbey (2010)] It's a dream job because it's completely the other side of the...
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[on his role in Downton Abbey (2010)] It's a dream job because it's completely the other side of the spectrum, particularly as it carries on. My character gets nastier.
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I've swam with great white sharks.
I've swam with great white sharks.
People identify with being heartbroken. We've all been heartbroken, haven't we? I've been dumped, an...
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People identify with being heartbroken. We've all been heartbroken, haven't we? I've been dumped, and it feels horrible.
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Before 'Coronation Street,' I was a jobbing actor, and after it, I'm a jobbing actor again.
Before 'Coronation Street,' I was a jobbing actor, and after it, I'm a jobbing actor again.
Most actors will tell you that villains are the most interesting to play.
Most actors will tell you that villains are the most interesting to play.
I think because of my background - I went through university and did an academic career and fell int...
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I think because of my background - I went through university and did an academic career and fell into acting - I've never had a game plan for my career because I got into it quite ad hoc.
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The devil always has the better tunes!
The devil always has the better tunes!
I got into acting for the different scenarios and roles and meeting different people.
I got into acting for the different scenarios and roles and meeting different people.
When people accuse me of being really posh, I think, 'Hang on a minute - no, I'm not!'
When people accuse me of being really posh, I think, 'Hang on a minute - no, I'm not!'
Particularly with internships, you have to work for a year with no money. How on Earth are you going...
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Particularly with internships, you have to work for a year with no money. How on Earth are you going to finance that?
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You don't buy evil characters lattes. That's not normal behavior.
You don't buy evil characters lattes. That's not normal behavior.
My girlfriend is a great support, and I've got a big circle of mates who keep my feet on the ground.
My girlfriend is a great support, and I've got a big circle of mates who keep my feet on the ground.
Being in 'Coronation Street' is only going to make me a better actor.
Being in 'Coronation Street' is only going to make me a better actor.
Sometimes people can be guilty of not working at relationships and if it's not working, oof, that's ...
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Sometimes people can be guilty of not working at relationships and if it's not working, oof, that's it.
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I would like to do theatre because it scares me, and I think you should do things that scare you.
I would like to do theatre because it scares me, and I think you should do things that scare you.
[on kissing Charlie Cox in Downton Abbey (2010)] When you're kissing a woman and you want it to look...
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[on kissing Charlie Cox in Downton Abbey (2010)] When you're kissing a woman and you want it to look realistic, you're thinking, 'Am I taking advantage of her? Is her boyfriend going to think I'm over-stepping the mark? Whereas when you are kissing a man, those thoughts don't cross your mind. I'm more scared of it looking false, so I went for it fully to make it look real and hopefully I've achieved that.
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I can't watch myself on screen without dying a little bit inside. And there are lots of moments when...
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I can't watch myself on screen without dying a little bit inside. And there are lots of moments when I think, 'What am I doing as an actor? I can't act!'
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There's definitely a wave of Brits doing great work on American television, and I wouldn't mind bein...
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There's definitely a wave of Brits doing great work on American television, and I wouldn't mind being one of them.
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