Quotes from Laura Carmichael

Sometimes we do things that are really awful.

It's beneficial to play against your type; to be chameleon-like.

My history teacher was utterly terrifying, but her lessons were very inspiring. She got me interested in people and stories, which then led me to acting.

Being at home is a job in itself and raising a family for sure.

You have to have sympathy for and an empathy with a character in order to play them.

I certainly never saw myself as posh.

I have such a huge girl crush on Beyonce.

I cry at films and TV and even adverts.

I think as an actor you're used to having to travel, so wherever the work, is you're willing to go.

No one goes through life thinking that theyre the best friend of the lead character.

When I emerge from filming I feel slightly out of synch with real life, but it's also a relief.

I think it must be so hard to start your career with everyone going on about how gorgeous you are. To be in that bracket must be so pressurised.

I don't really get recognised very much.

I'm not recognised much at all.

In a way, it's good not to be recognised as much off screen.

We all have hierarchies at work - even on set, the runner would never walk up to the director and ask for a cup of coffee.

I did all sorts of jobs after drama school - working in a bar, as a teaching assistant. I probably learned as much from them as I did at drama school.

I've not sat with my agent going: 'Where is the next hopeless girl I can play?' They just come along.

I grew up listening in awe to stories of their wartime adventures. My granny, Joan, was a journalist and wrote amazing letters to my grandpa when he was a prisoner of war, while my nana, Mary, was a Land Girl, then a Wren. They were so independent, resilient and glamorous.

I have two sisters, and we are the best of friends.

When I'm in a tricky situation I often think: 'What would Beyonce do?' It helps.

If I'm tweeting about being somewhere, and I haven't replied to somebody's email from three days ago, that's quite rude.

There is no way I'd have wanted to live in the Twenties. It was really crap for women.

I'm rubbish at Twitter.