As a child I was taken to the pantomime or the theatre and I would always, always fall in love with somebody on the stage. And want to have sex with them.

I never imagined it wouldn't work out for me. I had that absolute certainty in myself that has seen me through, I think, and my parents were absolutely behind me all the way.

I remember in Shallow Grave I remember a few times when we'd only have to do one take. But when you did have to do more than one, you'd build on the one you'd done.

I'm just into making quality stuff if I can, with interesting people and good scripts. But it's very important that it's about something and that it says something. Otherwise, I don't know what the point is, really.

I'm sure it's not great fun for them, or for any parent, when their child says they want to be an actor, 'cos it's quite an uncertain business and it can be terribly hard for most actors.

Mainly I was able to perform with music - I played the French horn, I would sing, and I was a drummer in the pipe band. So I think it was a way to show off.

The other two things are... well, I had a huge appetite for old black and white movies on BBC 2. At the weekends they used to run matinees, and the more romantic the better.

Then I left school at 16 and worked in Perth Repertory Theatre, which was quite nearby where I lived. And I worked there for about six or seven months, as part of the stage crew.

Ultimately, you have to not worry about people thinking you should have played him differently. You're the one playing the part so it has to be yours.

I got married because I fell in love with this woman. I had a baby with her because we wanted to have children. But that's not because of some philosophical ideal at all, no.

I like to dance, but it's not my weekend activity. I'm not a clubber.

I'm just looking for that moment to drop my Jedi knickers and pull out my real light saber.

I really want to play Princess Leia. Stick some big pastries on my head. Now that would be interesting.

I'm fiercely proud to be Scottish.

If you're suddenly doing something you don't want to do for four years, just so you've got something to fall back on, by the time you come out you don't have that 16-year-old drive any more and you'll spend your life doing something you never wanted to do in the first place.

At school there was no acting to be had other than school plays which I did now and again.

Conservative's the last thing I am.

From there I did a one year theatre acting course in Fife, and then three years of drama school in London.

I certainly have no plans to leave London. It's a great town.

I left halfway through my third year to start Lipstick On Your Collar, which was the first thing I ever did.