Miranda Otto

In everything I do, I like to set the idea for girls that they can do anything. I was really moved by Hillary Clinton's speech when she lost the election - she didn't want young girls to feel like it wasn't possible and wanted them to know a female president will eventually happen. That's important.

There are some great women's roles in television... so much more interesting than what I was reading in film scripts.

There are so many successful women working in intelligence, but it's still seen as a male-dominated world.

When I was working on 'Homeland,' there was a consultant who helped me a lot... I went to Washington and met with my consultant there, and he actually organised a lunch with several people from the Intelligence Committee.

In the past, I was always drawn to really quirky, idiosyncratic characters.

It's a career that's enticing because you go on stage, for example, and people clap. You get that affirmation, but you can't go into acting for that because it's really your own self-belief that's going to get you through.

I've been on shows where they're just setting it up, and they're trying to find the tone of the writing and performance. That's always a really chaotic period on shows.

As your career goes on, you get to flex your brain a little more and play characters that are stronger and more intelligent.

I have been really lucky to play roles younger than myself for most of my career.

I find, in film, we're always making things and having these intense friendships and then losing track of people. When I first start a job, I'm quite nervous, and it takes me a while to find my place, and then it feels like I'm just really loving it and feeling great, and it's all over.

I got into medicine at university, then deferred a year to see. Then I started acting and just never went back to university.

I worry about my sides. I worry where everything goes. I worry that I'm going to be the leak. I give all my scripts back!