Russell Tovey

“I get told a lot that I'm kind of carving my own path. That there are not many actors who are out and are able to play straight and gay, and everyone's OK with it.”

“I sort of challenge people's perceptions of what a gay man is, which is kinda good.”

“When I left 'Being Human,' that was painful because the show was going on without me. But with 'Him & Her,' we finished on such a high together that if it is the end, it couldn't have stopped at a better time. But I hope with 'Him & Her' that we'll get another crack of the whip: that the writer might change his mind and write some more.”

“I think it's quite limiting to do a soap.”

“You can be cocky and confident, but when you start developing feelings for someone, suddenly your self-esteem drops a bit.”

“I love my personal life and having a social life. And I didn't ever want to have to compromise.”

“I never felt I was attractive to women. I felt I was attractive to men when I was growing up. And even now, if a woman fancies me, I find that a bit alienating.”

“I'm not a controversial person. I'm not trying to polarise people.”

“Alan Bennett is a starmaker; he's the Simon Cowell of the theatre world! He's a beautiful, beautiful man: completely humble and so accessible.”

“I think if I met Frank Auerbach or Jeff Koons, I'd be more wobbly than if I met Robert De Niro!”

“My mum used to think it was the pill that made you gay. There was too much estrogen in the water, and people started taking the pill in the '60s, and it made everybody gay.”

“I've got really good friends and family. My parents, after 30 years, are still incredibly in love, still make each other laugh, which is a beautiful thing to see. And my brother and his fiance are completely happy, so if I feel a bit lonely, I just go and sit with them and feel their love.”

“I love musicals - that's probably one of my most gay traits: that's one of my giveaways!”

“I'd actually quite like to try working behind a bar for a while. I'd give that a go.”

“I think a part of me romantically thinks it would be amazing to learn to dance or ice skate, but in reality, I don't think it would be beneficial to my career.”

“At Christmas time, I spent an extortionate amount of money on Buzz Lightyear toys, baby clothes, Disney cars and the like.”

“If I hadn't gone into acting, then I would have perhaps become an animator.”

“I'd love the career of Julie Walters. As a man.”

“For me to play gay, it has to be something special because it might actually be more of a risk. So I'm waiting for that role - I want it to be something that moves things forward.”

“I loved 'Star Wars'. I had the toys.”