Ricky Whittle

“I want to act in films and TV drama, so that's where I'm aiming to be, and I'm not going to let anything distract me or turn my head until I get there.”

“I joined 'Hollyoaks' because in the long-term, I thought it's good money, it's good profile, and everything happens in soaps!”

“I must have been 15 or 16 when I left Antrim Grammar, but I do remember having my first proper kiss when I lived there.”

“I'm a big fan of old, classic American musclecars like a Shelby GT or the '69 Dodge Charger, cars that inspired me through my childhood. They used to get me real excited when I was a kid. To own one and actually be able to drive them in America is a little of a dream.”

“I actually spoke to one of the heads of a studio, and he said I confuse middle America. Basically, when they see a black person, they see athlete, they see rapper, or they see criminal or something like that. And then when they hear a British accent, they hear posh, so they hear lawyer or doctor.”

“I don't want to embarrass myself on TV!”

“Once people start to realise that colour is just that, it's just a colour, then things got a bit smoother.”

“With 'Strictly,' I am mentally and physically knackered: everything aches. I knew it would be hard, but I never thought it would be this tough.”

“I'm very competitive, and I want to be known to do well.”

“I'm a great believer in the idea that if it's meant to be, it will be.”

“I'm more of a mimic. My accent tends to drift to where ever I am.”

“I'd do whatever it takes to stay in California; maybe not L.A. because it's so crazy.”

“We need to sort the kids out and educate them properly. After all, they are our future.”

“The Ricky that the public see, whether it be on screen as a character, in public, or on social media, is very outgoing, and I'm a bit of a class clown. Then those who are closest to me know that I can be very sensitive. I can be quite insecure about myself.”

“Keep watching 'The 100.' It's an incredible show, and that's my family.”

“I think anyone is lying if they say they don't want to win.”

“My character in 'Hollyoaks' went through absolutely everything! There's not one emotion where I'm going to go, 'I don't know how to play this.'”

“First black Bond - that's my aim! That's the one!”

“I'm just a big kid; I get excited. That's probably the one thing in life that I get really excited about is cars.”

“I'm a huge sun baby. As soon as the sun comes out, my smile gets bigger, so I'm constantly smiling in L.A. It's a fantastic place to be.”