My first, big, silly role at school was as Arthur Crocker-Harris in Rattigan's 'The Browning Version,' where my job was to make school-masters' wives….

What makes a good animated movie is being able to balance adult and knowing in-jokes and also just out and out funny things that make all people laug….

I was always performing, doing silly voices. The teachers realized I could go one of two ways: be creative or destructive..

I was thrilled with how the first series of 'Sherlock' was received. It was such great fun to film, which makes it so rewarding when something you en….

I wasn't born into land or titles, or new money, or an oil rig..

I think playing any iconic role when you're stepping into big shoes, into the shadow of people who have come before you and you can't process that..

It's always important to have the blessing..

I think the characters are supposed to be an open book, blank canvas..

I've seen and swam and climbed and lived and driven and filmed. Should it all end tomorrow, I can definitely say there would be no regrets. I am very….

You have to sometimes just run with the problem rather than trying to solve it with hi-tech wizardry and lots of planning..

I had the privilege of being able to choose, or at least have the opportunity to work at, being anything but an actor..

I can feel infinitely alive curled up on the sofa reading a book..

I play enough other mad people, as well and some sane people, to vary the palette of what's scrabbling around in my head and soul to bring to the flo….

You come into this world as you leave it, on your own. It's made me want to live a life slightly less ordinary..

I realised quite early on that, although I wasn't trying to make a career speciality of it, I was playing slightly asexual, sociopathic intellectuals..

There's a huge raft of roles that actors in our culture perform, and you can see any one of about three Hamlets in a year. It's not something to be c….

I drive a motorbike, so there is the whiff of the grim reaper round every corner, especially in London..

Sherlock [Holmes] is on the side of the angels, but don't think he's one of them. He uses similar means, but it seems to be for a better purpose, one….

[Doctor Strange ] is slightly more specialised than Spider-Man or Superman or Batman, but he's very loved by people who know him..

Talking about class terrifies me. There is no way of winning..

If I'd had fame early on, I'd have been able to abuse it in the way that a young man should..