My mom and dad put my brother and sister through university and they were very keen for us to have an academic background just to give us a chance.

You don't buy evil characters lattes. That's not normal behavior.

Because youve done the horrible jobs, it gives you an even grittier determination to succeed.

If youre going to kiss a man, let it be a beautiful man like Ed Speleers.

It's not just modern-day society that is liberal.

My girlfriend is a great support, and I've got a big circle of mates who keep my feet on the ground.

I just want to say thank you to everyone who watched and tuned in and loved my evil gayness.

I'm a working class lad.

Most actors will tell you that villains are the most interesting to play.

I'm proud of the fact that Downton Abbey was born in a recession, at a time when ITV had dropped a lot of drama programmes. And I know that because I was out of work at the time!

There's definitely a wave of Brits doing great work on American television, and I wouldn't mind being one of them!

If you waste a minute, you have wasted life and if you waste an hour, you have wasted life.

[O]n general principles it is best that I should not leave the country. Scotland Yard feels lonely without me, and it causes an unhealthy excitement among the criminal classes.

Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.

Words matter. Especially ones with four letters.

I don't think I'm an outsider at all.

Parents have too little respect for their children, just as the children have too much for the parents.

Evie-you-GAH!" Lend shouted, and I looked up at him, surprised.

If his IQ slips any lower, we'll have to water him twice a day

I think love is a really hard thing to define. I think it's multifaceted.