Quotes from Adrian Dunbar

I have been doing stuff for a long time now and you would be in people's consciousness. But when you get something like a gift to play Ted Hastings, and some fabulous writing to get behind and a great crew, it suddenly allows people to go - 'I always knew he was good.'

I think it would be difficult to explore some aspects of Ted's past, because 'Line of Duty' investigates fictitious police forces - you never know, and you should never know, who it is we might be investigating.

Ted Hastings is the guy you would hope would be part of the police. He's got his problems, but is relentless in the pursuit of the truth.

I'm over the moon to play an iconic character like Ted Hastings and for my career to be defined by this role - that's a place very few actors get to.

When you're young and a teenager, there's an air of excitement about living with a time when you have to grasp life as much as you can because it may be taken from you.

We pay millions of pounds to separate Catholic and Protestant children, and even more millions on attempting to bring them together as adults. You can't make someone fear another person if they shared a desk for seven years.

I used to feel sorry for some of the guys who were in 'EastEnders,' who had done something terrible to somebody, and people were shouting at them in the street. I'd think: 'God, I'd hate it if that happened to me.'

I would hope that the Government would still support those small, struggling independent theatre companies and also maybe look to the built architecture of the theaters because we can't let them get into disrepair. They are part of the fabric of the country.

The first time I stepped on stage in the local theatre I knew what I needed to do - I knew I had found the right place to be.

Actors are like race horses. They like to run - they don't like to be hanging about.

People believe that forensics these days is the answer to everything and because we believe so ardently that forensics can lead us to the criminal we're also a bit nonplussed when someone gets in there and manipulates forensics to their advantage.

When I was at drama school some of the teachers, who were very wise, said to me, 'You're going to be a great actor in your 50s. Now, you're not malleable enough. You're doing one thing well but you need to loosen up a bit.' That happens to actors. You learn more about it and hopefully you get better at it as you get older.

You've got the armor and everything on, and you think, 'This is going to be great.' Then they give you a sword, and you think, 'Ah, it's not too bad.' And after 10 minutes you're thinking, 'Please, I can't be doing this all day.' I mean, I really don't know how people sustained themselves in real battles.

The problem is that in Ireland everybody thinks you have to have a 'take' on something. But if you have a 'take' on something then that's a spoof.

Beckett was the most thorough of playwrights. He tells you what to do and if you've any humility at all, you'll take his advice.

One of the things that's wonderful about having a festival in a small town like Enniskillen is that we don't have lots of purpose-built venues so we have to be creative about where we place events.

My father was a foreman on building sites and he was really good at getting a day's work out of fellas. And he did it without being a tyrant. He was a good guy.

I do like the dark, gritty psychological thrillers, but sometimes we need a little respite from that.

There was a period in my life when alcohol was a good friend. Then there came a point when I realized that it was definitely not a good friend. I haven't had a drink now for many years.

I do like things that are a bit reckless, so long as the people around me are professionals. Stuntmen will see you through anything.

We were always reminded by our teachers that careers take off at different times. They held up Arthur Lowe as a great example of an actor who works for years and then suddenly he gets a part and everybody knows him.

People often say Beckett is difficult or bleak, but engaging with it is the most life-affirming, uplifting thing. It's his use of language. The music of the words works on your subconscious. You end up deeply moved but don't know why. That's where the magic lies.

I've been lucky enough to do a tiny bit of Shakespeare onstage over the years.

I don't know anyone else I could have hooked up with who could have handled me. I've got my woman and she's a very good one.