I don't feel like a romantic lead; I guess I feel more like a character actor.

- Matthew Macfadyen

Nobody's really unsympathetic, I think. People do good and bad things. If a character's totally unsympathetic, they're not real and I'm not intereste…

- Matthew Macfadyen

I think people ought to do what they feel useful at the time. If I do things because I ought to do them, I switch off.

- Matthew Macfadyen

It must be odd, being recognizable. I would hate to lose that anonymity.

- Matthew Macfadyen

I wouldn't want to leave it so long before doing a play again, I get very stolid and sluggish if I do too much telly.

- Matthew Macfadyen

The actor in me would always like to be more dashing, or slimmer, or have nicer hair.

- Matthew Macfadyen

I've worried more and more as the years have gone on. The more you're seen to be doing well, the more stress there is. You feel you ought to consider…

- Matthew Macfadyen

I try to be fussy about the parts I play. I think that's quite prudent, it means you're stretching different muscles, and you're scaring yourself by …

- Matthew Macfadyen

Actors have to remind people that they can do different things, not just the same style of one role.

- Matthew Macfadyen