“I’m trying to mix the cool, independent stuff with the big stuff, but it’s been difficult finding the right roles. It’s been an interesting ride as far as my career pendulum is concerned”

The philosophies behind meditation are very current today and are a way of finding some sort of peace.

Although it is a fantasy film, it’s as real as it can be. You have to imagine that an audience will buy their ticket to a cinema and get on a first-class flight and journey to Middle Earth.

I’m amazed that things have panned out the way they have. I always say I’m so lucky, though my mum always says, ‘You make your own luck.’

People come into your life and people leave it… you just have to trust that life has a road mapped out for you.

I try to take the time to appreciate and I certainly do appreciate and I do feel proud but that is probably one of the things I need to work on, building a bit of time for myself.

When you start falling for somebody and you can’t stop thinking about when you’re going to see them again, I love that. Women are beautiful. They deserve to be cherished and respected.

I don’t do a film unless it has a sword in it. And if it doesn’t have a sword in it, I insist that they have one in the same room to keep me comfortable.

I love it. I hate that word (fatherhood), but I love being a father; it’s changed everything in so many ways.

If you have kids who are struggling with dyslexia, the greatest gift you can give them is the sense that nothing is unattainable. With dyslexia comes a very great gift, which is the way that your mind can think creatively.

The process of making a movie is what I love. I thrive on that. It’s an exciting miracle, a mad adventure. I love being part of it.

I missed my home – like the physicality of my home, I missed my friends and my family mostly and just hanging out and being in your home country – culturally it feels right and that is what I miss.

I think it’s sort of a rite of passage for a British actor to try and get the American accent and have a good crack at doing that.

We have to make good use of the time we have. That simple. We have to wake up every day, knowing that it’s not just an ordinary day. We have to take the moment, seize each day.

The role of an actor is to make every character believable.

I don’t care much about the money at all. Frankly, if I get the chance to kiss someone in a movie, they wouldn’t need to pay me at all.

I know you can be up one minute and drop the next, so I’m trying to maintain a steady course so I can have some longevity.

I love any time you can enlighten people to mistakes, that’s how I started my career.

Playing with Queen was the biggest moment of my career. It was like living a childhood fantasy.

No offence to Nicki Minaj, but her career has essentially been a Lil’ Kim tribute

The most common misconception people have had in the past is about my own control and calculation of my career.

I take pride in working very hard. You need to understand that hard work doesn’t instantly pay off. My career grew gradually and taught me a lesson every step of the way.

I come from a long line of teachers. Not only did I not go into the family business; I had an aborted law career and I played in bands. ‘Disco Pigs’ was my first professional acting experience.

I am very career minded, and I think my personality is more suited to America. I am a working mum.

God is much more concerned about your character than your career, because you will take your character into eternity, but not your career.