Dominic Cooper

Of course you can find something exciting and dynamic in any character you want to portray.

You never know really what anyone thinks about you - that's why all my closest friends are ones I've had since my schooling days when I was 5. And I surround myself with people who I trust and who know me.

In whatever work environment, whether we admit it or not, there is always a little part of us that has been or will be tempted by a lifestyle for the wrong reasons.

I have always worked from that place, that if you are going to inhabit someone and get under their eyes, you need to have empathy.

There are probably only a certain number of people who can understand or tolerate how long a job will take and what demands it puts on you. And why should they? It breeds a strange kind of selfishness immersing yourself in a character for so long.

There's only so much you can do of trying, finding yourself very close to getting a part and then not getting it.

For the three years I was in school training to be an actor, I was told, 'It's very unlikely you'll work at all on the stage or in film', so I feel I have to take all the opportunities I can.

I don't think there's ever a point when you turn to yourself and go, 'Yes, I've made a success of this career path.' You never feel like you've done your best work. You always think you could be better.

Especially with comedy, you take massive risks because ultimately you're trying to be funny. If you're not funny, then it's really embarrassing and you look stupid.

I feel very fortunate, always.

It's funny, I never think I'm doing that well. I've never, ever. I just constantly think, 'This isn't working out.'

When you work with people who are so passionate about their product it's kinda inspiring.

You never know what the public is going to respond to or relate to.

You want to know if anyone's going to go see your film. You shouldn't worry about it or get hung up on it. So yea, you kind of monitor it.

The people in Iraq lived essentially good lives. They had brilliant health and education systems. Saddam actually created an incredible infrastructure in a very difficult country, but they were a Mafia family. If you said anything against that regime or that family you would be killed instantly.

I don't see myself as being a heart-throb at all.

One of the exciting and enjoyable aspects of acting is being in the environment with another actor.

I like being in focus, in the moment, changing and adapting and creating and advancing a scene.

There is nothing I hate more than meeting someone who has forgotten the art of conversing.

To a certain extent I suppose all actors are big kids.