Quotes from Ruth Wilson

I always vaguely knew I wanted to perform, but I haven't got the greatest singing voice and my dancing isn't up to scratch. Acting was really the only alternative. My parents have been really supportive throughout.

I don't know about writing. It's quite lonely. You have to have a lot of patience with yourself. I don't know if I could do that. But I'd love to direct again.

I tend to make bolder and more interesting choices after I've done theatre.

There's such a huge link with fashion, with front covers of magazines and selling products, but that's not what you go into the job for, and yet you're persuaded that's what you have to do to create the opportunities for yourself.

A cat is incredibly physical, and as a performer, I'm physical. If I feel emotions, they move through my body in a way that is sensual. I'm not necessarily in control of that.

I'm not very good at lying.

I've got friends who are so good at getting away with things, like going up to the desk to get upgraded on a plane, for example. I haven't got any of that kind of confidence in those situations. I look so awkward. I act awkward. I'm really apologetic.

I'm drawn to damaged, complicated characters.

It's the preparation that's my favourite part of the process.

I do things on a whim.

People don't know what goes on in my private life, so they have to make conjecture from something that is photographed.

Cleaning isn't all that interesting to me. I'm disorganized.

For me, there is a stigma attached to playing beautiful parts. They are often empty characters whom the action happens around. I'm more drawn to characters with a complex internal life, who have a burning frustration underneath that keeps them going.

I love meeting people and analysing their world. I like having a puzzle to solve. That's why I do so much work in advance. Even if it doesn't affect my performance in the end, I just find it so much more interesting if I've got as wide as possible an understanding of the material.

I remembered a mantra that one of my teachers used to tell me at drama school, that every thought will pass across your face. Even if you're thinking about Shreddies the camera will read it.

There are a lot more roles for men than there are for women. So men get their fee up by sheer quantity of material.

It's how you prioritize in life.

I'm crap at pretending to be something I'm not when I'm in my real life.

I'm a tragedienne in some way. I think quite epically. I like epic landscapes and grand emotions.

It's a good time for me, but it's only recently I've become comfortable in my job. At the start, it's hard having the nerve to call yourself an actor, let alone doing it. I gave myself two years after drama school, and if I didn't make it, then I'd give it up.

I simply want to take a break and catch my breath. But I also think that, sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is to deliberately keep some time free and see what the world throws at you.

I studied history at university, so I'm always quite fascinated by the Second World War and France. That's one of my interests.

I didn't know anyone in my family who acted; no one in my immediate family did any acting.

I really love clothes, but I think I have a style of my own which is quite eclectic.