It was when I was on stage that I realized that acting could be such a brilliant job.

The worst thing as an actor is when you're not getting opportunities to try and show what you can do; the best thing is when you get material that really lets you express something and that you're excited about.

There is something wonderful about turning up every day and knowing that not just the character but the whole movie kind of rests on your shoulders. And there's great satisfaction when you think it's going well and then real terror when you think it's not.

I like Philip Larkin an awful lot; I really like his view on life, and I really connect to it.

I get asked to give stuff to my dad. I'm, like, 'I'm not gonna pass your script to him!' You know? My dad's my dad. I'm not his agent.

Everyone talks about how we're on our phones all the time, but the fact remains that when I'm away on a film set for two months, I can Skype my family. I remember the phone calls my parents had to make when my dad was away for a while when I was younger - that once-a-week expensive phone call! The time pressure on talking to your father!

Two things are always happening in acting. On the one hand, it's a team sport. We're all pulling together. But on the other, you have to look after your own character. Guard their interests.

I'm pleased to say I grew up in a happy family in Dublin. I feel we're very close.

My mum and my dad have really good taste in movies. My gran would tape them off the TV and write notes about them, rating them.

The rom-com genre is not something that necessarily lights my jets.

I do feel a wave come over me when I hear those two words, 'Star' and 'Wars,' said together. I feel tense, shut up, and stare into the middle distance.

My dad said, 'If no one was giving me acting work, I'd have to be prepared to create it myself.'

Look at Cillian Murphy: 'Batman,' 'Tron'... those are some heavy-hitting franchises. But he works his way around it. He manages to have a great career and a great life.

Portraying as human the people you hear about on the news doing bad things is dangerous. But it's also necessary and important.

Though rom-coms aren't necessarily my cup of tea, I was a huge fan of 'Notting Hill.'

I'm a little bit drifty. I'm a little bit all over the place.

If there's one person in the world with whom a chemistry read is unnecessary, it's Rachel McAdams.

The Coen brothers are amazing; they're special.

I did 'Never Let Me Go,' and there were amazing people on that. Brilliant writer, director, cast. That was quite special.

I've been interested in the writing/directing thing and really fell into acting by complete accident.

There's so many good comic actors that you just take the best of and try and run with it yourself. Try and bring a little bit of yourself to it, too.

I think the whole thing is: If it makes sense in your head, the audience will go along with it.

Every actor is like, 'I could direct!'

I was in 'Harry Potter,' and nobody on the street recognizes me from that. Nobody on the street has ever stopped me from 'Harry Potter!'

When I was younger, my father told me not to pigeonhole the way that I perceive myself.

I think everybody's got their insecurities and hang-ups. Everybody! Unless you're an idiot.

Really, all I worry about is the work in hand.

When you work with actors, what you're hoping to absorb is good ways to be an actor as opposed to how to handle being famous.

I'm a pessimist by nature, so it's always the worst things that come to mind first whenever you make a decision or have a decision to make.

Though rom-coms aren't necessarily my cup of tea, I was a huge fan of 'Notting Hill.' I laughed a lot, and the romance got to me.

I stand to learn more working as an actor with really talented people than I do by directing a feature.