“My experience of singing, as an actor, was that there’s a different creative feeling of freedom. The acting thing is a bit more defined and cerebral. I can see why people would want to cross over. If you have so much freedom on stage then perhaps you want to be confined a bit, and vice versa.”

A big part of what I wanted to do with this character was go from when I was a boy and try and develop into a man, really try and play him as a man who is on this search, on a journey of personal, spiritual, political, social discovery.

Failure is simply the non-presence of success. But a fiasco is a disaster of mythic proportions.

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

I trained for three years at drama school to be an actor – not a celebrity.

I’m always amazed at anyone’s interest in what I have to say.

I’m probably a good boyfriend, but I’m pretty intense. When you’re with me it’s exciting, fun and very intense. At the same time, I’m easy going. But all that depends on what girl I’m with.

The thing about fame, is you never think it’s going to happen to you. So when it does, it’s sort of a shock. Some people are just better at it than others.

Creativity is the key for any child with dyslexia, or for anyone for that matter. Then you can think outside of the box. Teach them anything is attainable. Let them run with what you see is whatever they need to run with.

I did send a girl a plane ticket asking her for a visit, I guess that’s quite romantic.

I feel really privileged to be an actor, to be paid to do something I love.

If life isn’t about human beings and living in harmony, then I don’t know what it’s about.

When I was nine, I had this girlfriend and we used to have running races in the park. I wanted to be like Superman and fly in and rescue her.

Whatever happens in life is fine – just trust in that.

I got to work with one of my heroes, Johnny Depp, and to see how he goes about business, which was really inspiring for me at this stage in my career.

Everything you know, all the things that you thought were important, drift into the background. And even things that were important really come to the fore and he’s one of them.

Someone tried to save my soul in a gas station.