“I have the highest regard for Meryl Streep as an actress and think she's a fabul…” — Lindsay Duncan

I've always been a material-based actor. That's what I've done, the choices I've made - like a heat-seeking missile.

I don't perform well in private. Socially, I mean. And I didn't as a child. Actors aren't necessarily outgoing, are they?

I do feel almost violent when I'm watching things that I don't think are good enough. I get furious for the audience. I want to say to them, 'This play is not supposed to be like this. They've got it completely wrong. You should be electrified by this.'

My background is really being a writer's actor - that seems to be the way I work best, bringing out the best of writing. There's a whole range of acting skills, and some people can be astonishing with very poor material. That's not me; my skill is essentially unlocking the writing.