Quotes from Dan Stevens

Coming back to theatre is something I'm keen to do for the rest of my life. It recharges my batteries, so to speak.

You do feel a certain obligation to shows that raise your profile like 'Downton' has. But there are definitely other exciting opportunities out there.

What was interesting was talking to older gay men about what it was like being gay in the Eighties.

I don't think many people get to play big emotions in life.

Oh, it is quite possible that none of us in 'Downton' will ever again get the ratings this has had. But from a career point of view, it has opened so many doors.

I'm shocked at being recognized.

I don't think there's ever a right time to have kids. I'm actually pretty glad it's happened quite young.

I want to spend as much time as I can with my family, yet I'm aware of having to bring home the bacon.

It's nice to get your glad rags on for awards like the Baftas, but it doesn't happen all the time.

I'm a huge fan of Eighties music.

People look at me, they know I've appeared in costume dramas and they automatically assume I must be a Tory, I must be a certain type of person.

All my early school reports from the age of 5 were 'Daniel must learn not to distract others.'

I never quite toed the line. I was a bit disruptive. All my early school reports from the age of 5 were 'Daniel must learn not to distract others.' And now, that's what I do for a living.

But even writing the column for the 'Telegraph,' that idea of working to deadlines, which as an actor that's not something you have to do in the same way. It's excited me into wanting to do a bit more.

At 13, in my first year of Tonbridge, I went up for the part of Macbeth. I was up against the 17- and 18-year-olds, but for some reason I got the part. It made me incredibly unpopular with my peers, but it was the English and drama teachers who stepped in to save me when others wanted me kicked out of the school.

"I've never see you do something like this before and I'd love to see you try." For a young actor, that's about the most exciting thing that anyone can say to you.

I've never tried to find my real parents. I'm very grateful to my mum and dad for adopting me - they're completely incredible people. It was my dad who encouraged me to question everything, to forge my own path, to think, to read. I always felt it was my right to question everything.

Soap opera seems to be a dirty word, but actually they are the most popular shows we have.

The comfort zone is the great enemy to creativity; moving beyond it necessitates intuition, which in turn configures new perspectives and conquers fears.

The female attention I have to struggle hardest with is from my two-year-old daughter.

At the age of 11 I was about 6 ft. tall and my voice had completely broken. That caused problems. I was this gangly, spotty, very unattractive kid. I wasn't cool and I wasn't a nerd. I didn't even want to fit in with anyone.

In the 21st century, I think it's fair to say, homosexuality is more accepted in Britain and it's wonderful that my generation has been able to grow up with that.

We take so many of our freedoms for granted nowadays - I can travel where I like, I can have a baby when I like, I can do any job I want - but I do think chivalry has been lost a little bit.

I don't see money or a particular status as an actor as a goal, but I want to do the best work I can in as interesting a range of roles as I can.