Dallas is an extraordinary place in it's own right. The first thing about Dallas that you can't get away from, particularly when I arrived, you've got no idea of the heat in this place. It's over 100 degrees, and with that the humidity is ridiculous. I mean, people don't live here, armadillos live here.

I'd always been the confident guy in school. I was good in math and English, but I was still shy. I couldn't get up and speak in front of people. I was asked to do it when I was 10 years old and I burst out crying.

Like any other boy in the world that does a little bit of rough-and-tumble and playing around when they're a kid, who doesn't want to be an action star at some point?

I miss the banter with friends and family, which more often than not takes place within the confines of a decent public house. So I miss the pubs.

I think that good parenting should allow children to be children. That naivety and slightly open way of looking at the world is very valuable.

I love, love, love being an actor - it's still the hardest and scariest thing I do, outside of parenting. But I've always been someone who likes a busy day.

I admire my mother. She raised four kids and worked and had no help.

I had some great experiences in England in clubs who are among the best in the country. I was happy there - my family, too. The only error that I made was to sign for Crystal Palace in January 2016.