Ben Barnes

Actually what I'd like is to have a reputation as someone who's been wild and gone straight, but without having to go through the trouble of being bad.

I'd rather be shot than be seen falling out of some trendy club.

Never agree to say or do anything that isn't you.

I want to take advantage of any popularity I have.

I was heavily into sport from 10 to 15, I was in all the teams, and it was everything to me. But I was very young for my school year and when puberty kicked in for my classmates I got left behind.

I only remember the end of my dreams, like waking up at a steering wheel, or falling.

I often talk with other actors about that time when you've just finished a job, because I think you do take on the characteristics of some of the characters you play. Sometimes it can be a great thing and sometimes it's a bit haunting because you're not quite sure how to leave it on set. My dad talks about it as being 'de-personalised.'

When I was younger I didn't really know what genre of music I'd want to do because I'd always done so many different types, so many impressions.

I think if actors don't think of themselves as funny in real life they think they can't do comedy.

My dad is a doctor, a professor of psychiatry, and my mum is a psychotherapist.

There are loads of websites devoted to me.

I have done lots of music projects in my life and some of them I am more proud of than others.

I don't really know who I am as an actor: the best thing would be to experiment with it for the next 30 years and never really find out.

I want to play characters that are interesting to watch.

When I finished school, everyone wanted to go to a good university and become a lawyer or a doctor. My A-levels were sort of chosen for me.

I'm probably a little too uninhibited.

I am comfortable playing the fool, I think.

I've actually, very rarely have I worked in my own voice. I've played, I think, Russian, American, Northern from the North of England. All sorts of different accents I've worked in.

People recognize actors that they see regularly, like people they see on the television every week.

I don't believe in that kind of pragmatic career ladder stuff.