Theo James

“I know that everyone wants to know about 'Downton Abbey,' but the truth is that it was only a few days out of my life. Still, you play a distinctive part on a hit series, and everyone suddenly knows who you are. Isn't it crazy how this business works?”

“I was thinking recently, I've always loved the ocean. If I could do it all again, I might do an oceanography degree. You can do ocean archaeology, and I thought that might be fascinating to do - man-made structures, where the sea has risen above the structures.”

“Every time I come, I'm still amazed at the breadth California has. Big Sur, Yosemite, the desert... I love it.”

“We're in a world where masculinity, especially with these big spectacle movies, is often pushed by rippling six packs and forcing an image down someone's throat trying to prove masculinity. Whereas I think true masculinity comes from having a strong sense of self.”

“I've got two brothers and two sisters, so there's five of us and we're all very close, which is cool.”

“I try to use public transport, always.”

“People say that New Yorkers aren't friendly, but I think they're more friendly than Londoners. Here there is a front-footed nature of Americans. You can go out on a night out and meet 10 random people and stay in touch with them, whereas that's not going to happen in the same way in London.”

“I saw 'Captain America' in 3D. It's cool. I liked the beginning. It's a really good setup.”

“I watched 'The Shield.' That was a big show for me.”

“I've had some strange notes from fans and a few weird gifts.”

“My obsession is plastic packaging. It makes me sick, all the waste. Everything about it disappoints me.”

“Sometimes the best parts are the leading men. But the little parts can be similarly gratifying.”

“I did my share of kid acting, like lots of us do. I even played King Herod when I was 6, but when I got to the end of my school period, that was it.”

“I know I often get a job because of how I look. I hope that I keep the job because of how I act.”

“I always think that you finish one movie, you start a new one, and you think, 'OK. I did that last one. Now I've learned. I know how this works.' Then by the end of the movie, you think, 'No, I don't, really.'”

“British shows, especially on a first commission, don't get the cash that the U.S. shows get.”

“Everybody has a bit of body armor they wear to protect themselves, and love is about trying to break it down. You have to see who a person really is and connect with her to break that armor.”

“I had a pretty steep learning curve in film - as I'm still learning.”

“Naturally, obviously, nudity is a part of life.”

“Inherently, I'm not a huge extrovert, so I actually find interviews and all the glamour to be a bit challenging sometimes.”