Matthew Macfadyen

It's a real skill to be able to publicise yourself.

— Matthew Macfadyen

I did four or five years in telly, and by the end of it was drained. I was a bit sick of…

— Matthew Macfadyen

I've worried more and more as the years have gone on. The more you're seen to be doing well, the more stress…

— Matthew Macfadyen

I have felt some twinges recently, about parts I wanted to play that I may be getting too old and fat to…

— Matthew Macfadyen

I would hate not to do a play every couple of years. I think it's not me.

— Matthew Macfadyen

I think it sits quite happily with me, the condition of being an actor. I see some people getting quite eaten up…

— Matthew Macfadyen

It must be odd, being recognisable. I would hate to lose that anonymity. It happened for a while with 'Spooks.' No one…

— Matthew Macfadyen

No one will guide you in the right direction, in the end you have to learn for yourself. You have to grow…

— Matthew Macfadyen

I was quite a shy child. I would get terribly nervous and throw up before my birthday party. And then I would…

— Matthew Macfadyen

The actor in me would always like to be more dashing, or slimmer, or have nicer hair.

— Matthew Macfadyen

I think I do have a good eye. It's quite liberating, being in a position to read a script and say, 'No.'…

— Matthew Macfadyen

I'd auditioned for the National Youth Theatre and I didn't get a place and it was terrifying.

— Matthew Macfadyen

I can't throw books away. My wife is always telling me to get rid of some.

— Matthew Macfadyen

I wouldn't want to leave it so long before doing a play again, I get very stolid and sluggish if I do…

— Matthew Macfadyen

Some British actors are snobby about telly, and I don't understand that.

— Matthew Macfadyen

You'd never play Hamlet if you started worrying about who's played it before you.

— Matthew Macfadyen

Nobody's just arrogant. I've met people who are embattled and dismissive, but when you get to know them, you find that they're…

— Matthew Macfadyen

The security comes, as an actor, in knowing that you're not in control. If you try to control your career, or how…

— Matthew Macfadyen

Nobody's really unsympathetic, I think. People do good and bad things. If a character's totally unsympathetic, they're not real and I'm not…

— Matthew Macfadyen

I just loved the whole idea of being an actor.

— Matthew Macfadyen

Actors have to remind people that they can do different things, not just the same style of one role.

— Matthew Macfadyen

There's always a concern as an actor that you'll be boring unless your character is swinging from a chandelier.

— Matthew Macfadyen

I love TV and I love making films and I love doing plays. I feel very lucky to be able to do…

— Matthew Macfadyen

As much as I long for a sort of security and consistency sometimes, I do enjoy sort of being busted around. I…

— Matthew Macfadyen

People like to think that actors are terribly worried about ghosts of other actors in the parts they play. But you just…

— Matthew Macfadyen