Robert Carlyle

I was 16 when I was in a band, for about 10 minutes. I went off and did acting after that. So it was a wee moment for me when I sang.

I never rehearse. Never! I think it's a waste of time.

I love sci-fi because it leads in the imagination, and I always say it has the most intelligent fans in the world.

A lot of the characters I play have problems, they are marginalised, they have serious psychological problems, problems with relationships, with childhood. These are big subjects, big subjects. You can't balk at work like that. As an actor, that's as good as it gets.

I've really enjoyed my work in television, but the problem for me is the turnover of directors every week.

I'd work with Danny Boyle every day of the week. No matter what he was doing I would do that.

A lot of my work is with children and there's a reason for that, because they really level you.