As a kid, I spent an awful lot of time pretending I was somebody else. I think growing up in the 1980s wasn't very exciting so you kind of create this secret life of an alternate person. You pretend to be whatever you need to be that day, so you live in that dream world.

I can be intolerably jealous and I think that's what's driven me. My ambition knows no end.

No one picked on me for my lunch money. Probably because it was the 1980s and no one had lunch money.

Going after a part in Hollywood is like being a gladiator in ancient Rome. When it comes down to getting a role, you don't have any friends, you're incredibly competitive and any actor who tells you different is lying.

With longevity comes, 'Nothing is going to kill me; I cannot irreparably damage my career.' Those days are over. The most I can sustain are fender benders.

I really love doing period pieces. I don't feel I've gotten a chance yet in my career to explore it as much as I'd like to. So I'll constantly look for opportunities to play in those worlds and hopefully be able to express those characters as well someday.

When girls can get an education and women can work and run businesses or even serve as elected officials, the world benefits.

I was freelancing for years in Cork and around. I also wrote freelance pieces for 'The Irish Times.'