Quotes from James Nesbitt

Northern Ireland has treated me well, you know?

Supporting drama for young people is close to my heart.

I loved my time growing up in Northern Ireland doing youth drama, that is where it all began for me.

As I flew back from New Zealand to bury my mother, it occurred to me that no matter how harrowing her loss was and how keenly it will always be felt, there was, nevertheless, a sense of relief that my father, sisters and I could say a final goodbye after the longest goodbye and relief that my mum had finally been released.

When I was at drama school, I was totally broke, and a lot of my mates had jobs and were financially very good to me, so if, for example, I take them away on a trip to a football match in Europe, it means that I can pay them back a bit.

I was one of the many kids in Northern Ireland who grew up in the countryside and had an idyllic childhood well away from the Troubles.

All my adult life, there was the Troubles. That was the backdrop of my life.

People love watching medical dramas - they also love watching documentaries about the workings of the brain.

I've heard some duff Irish accents. The worst must be Mickey Rourke.

New Zealand is a place where you can get well.

When you see a tumour in the brain, it's an ugly looking thing. It's kind of black, grisly and messy. Or it can be white. To see it taken away is just amazing.

'Spoilt' is a euphemism for 'loved.'

There will only ever be 13 dwarves in 'The Hobbit' - and I was one of them. If I had my time again, would I do it? Yeah, I would.

Drama asks some uncomfortable questions at times... It goes to pretty dark places.

I'm not very good at standard English.

When I did the film 'Hear My Voice' a few years ago, I disappeared fully up my own backside for a while. Because I thought my career was taking off, I became a bit of an egomaniac and a pain in the neck. I thought I was God's gift to mankind and the greatest Irishman since George Best.

I never forget that I'm extremely fortunate.

I love nothing more than going to eat by myself with a newspaper.

When I turned 40, subconsciously, life was a blank sheet. Before, it was disjointed, and I was very displaced and quite mad, but it was a brilliant time. Everyone thinks I must have been unhappy.

I went to India with UNICEF in connection with Manchester United to raise money for children's education.

Unification is less important than the fact Ireland is now conflict-free.

When you're brought up in a Unionist culture, you can't help but feel Unionist.

My preference is for good writing. It doesn't matter if it's for film or TV. Whatever. It starts with the writing. Even though I've had problems with writers, it doesn't matter how great of an actor you are. If the writing is bad, you're going to struggle.

It's a complicated relationship with the place one grows up in, particularly if it's Northern Ireland.