James D'arcy
I don't have any expectations as an actor, and being rich and famous is not my driving force.Collection: Famous
There are lots of people I admire and respect, but I don't necessarily want to be like them. I'm too happy being myself.Collection: Respect
I find it incredibly romantic that people should fight for a cause they believe in and be prepared to die for it.Collection: Romantic
It was only when I finished the course and left my graduation diploma on the bus that I realised I'd become an actor.Collection: Graduation
I'm not really very ambitious. I'm more interested in enjoying my life and looking after my family than being hugely successful.
I'm more interested in enjoying my life and looking after my family than being hugely successful.
It's difficult to gauge that. With a bad guy you just know you're bad. To play a nice guy is harder - unless you are a very nice person like me of course.
Now here I am playing a passionate young Irishman who would die for what he believes in.
I went further and further back through the centuries to get a sense of perspective but now at least I understand why Irish history evokes such strong passions and emotions.
I talked to everyone about the project: actors and extras, members of the crew and passers by.
There is an odd sense of responsibility attached to appearing in a drama about a real piece of history. A work of fiction is fun.
Although this is a fictitious story the history is real. You don't want to re-write history but you certainly want to portray events and characters as realistically as you can.
When I left school I went to Australia for a year and worked in the drama department of a school in Perth.
I'm not really very ambitious.
Baddies always do get the best lines, that's the honest truth.
The good guy only gets the girl in a soppy way.
It felt good doing a physical job, and going home each evening feeling like I had really done a day's work.
The reason I wanted to be an actor is that I don't want to play me for the rest of my life and make money out of that.
I'm attracted to seeing how different I can be, pushing the boat out.