My sights have always been on acting, on the creative process, never the lifestyle. Growing up in Northern Ireland when I did, everything was against you if you wanted to do something like that. But I was determined.

I'm a big fan of live music and going to gigs, but I'll leave it to the professionals.

You immediately hear the word 'Merlin,' you think magic, you think adventure, excitement - you also think 'an old man.'

You look for comic relief in difficult times.

Most people ask for happiness on condition. Happiness can only be felt if you don't set any condition.

What I look at, success is about really being grateful. You wake up in the morning, and you're thankful that you could breathe because it's a beautiful planet we live on, and I know there is a lot of struggle and pain, but there is more joy.

Joy is something you can experience even when life is not pleasurable. Even in the midst of a long run, when your legs are burning, you can still feel joy.

Pain is pain, joy is joy - you can't avoid bringing pieces of yourself into a role.