Sophie Okonedo

It was a dream to be on Broadway as a kid, so to actually end up there, I loved it.

Anyone can play anyone in Shakespeare. I don't think there are limits.

There is a lot more opportunity now, and I welcome all the conversations we are having about diversity, about women and about class... I come from a very working-class background, and I think the class thing is still probably more tricky.

Being in the theatre is like being in a little family: you get really close.

I like having the script before I start. With new plays, you're constantly developing as you're doing it. It's really frightening. You don't quite know how it's going to end up.

I like gardening.

I'd hate to lose the character actress part of me, because, by God, the parts are much more interesting.

There's nothing worse than actors spouting about what they think.

I get offered loads of unusual stuff. I just don't do loads because I like staying at home a lot, and I'm a little bit lazy. I don't get that thing of going from film to film that people do. It would drive me nuts, and that level of fame is quite scary.

Being a character actor, I can go on until I'm 70 or 80; I'm not bound to the way I look.

As a black actress, all I was offered in British film was the best friend role, whereas in TV I was offered a whole spectrum of parts.

When I do things that aren't very good, I'm worse as an actor. I don't know what I pick up - but it's something not very nice.