I liked to be in my own company, so when I came home from school, I'd just go up to my room and hang out by myself. I wouldn't really have friends over or go to see friends much.

I just enjoyed telling stories. I enjoyed watching films and reading and becoming someone else. I spent a lot of time on my own when I was younger; I enjoyed my own company and still do, so it was a source of escapism.

I love film, but it's funny going to drama school for three years, where you spend most of your time training for theatre, then coming out and just doing films.

I was very, very shy in public and school, and quite loud and brash at home.

As I got older, I auditioned for drama school and shocked myself by getting in.

Tuppence was what my grandmother nicknamed my mother, so she gave it to me. My sister is called Angel, and my brother was going to be called Bubba or Sonny, until they let me and my sister name him Josh.

I don't think, as an actress, you want to be beautiful. It's actually a disadvantage because that's not where all the interesting parts lie.

I'd love to have a room full of taxidermy. I'd be devastated if my cat, Archimedes, ever died. I was debating the other day with a friend whether I should stuff him, but don't know whether he would end up looking like himself. I'd be really sad if he looked strange.

You want a career. You don't want to do a couple of good films and then your career is over.

I think I would've been a bit terrified to have gone and done a lead straight away. Obviously great if you do, but it's all about longevity.

Period dramas seem to take actors to the next level because they do so well in America.

I don't want to be one of those young actors who is around for a couple of years and melts off the scene.

Since Kate Middleton came around, some people think I'm related to her, but unfortunately, there's no connection.

'Each job you learn something new. It's important to build towards things otherwise you lose your mind, which I think I probably would have done a few years ago. I want to make films I like, with scripts that I love. That's what's important to me. Sometimes if you pursue that then fame is inevitable and so is the intrusion. You have to accept it. It's important you know it's part of the job'.