Sophie Okonedo

I never suffered anti-Semitic racism because no one thought I was Jewish.

I am rather partial to Shakespeare, though I haven't done loads. But when it's done right, there's nothing like it. There are layers upon layers upon layers, and you unpack new things constantly. I don't know how he knew so many things - about the world, about women, about human nature, life, death, our fears and hopes.

Anyone can play anyone in Shakespeare. I don't think there are limits.

I love being a punter.

To get an award for something you are having a ball doing is a real buzz.

I listen much better when I'm acting than I do in real life.

I'd hate to lose the character actress part of me, because, by God, the parts are much more interesting.

I just get offered a lot more work in America than I do in Britain.

There are just more roles for me in America. Sadly. Because I love working in Britain. It's my home.

If the writers all come from the same backgrounds, you are going to get the same sorts of characters. Get a broader variety of writers, and you get a bigger range of stories.

The tried and tested becomes very boring. There's no way that the British equivalent of a Bryan Cranston would get the lead in a British equivalent of 'Breaking Bad.'

There's nothing worse than actors spouting about what they think.

I can't, for example, Google myself, because I am very sensitive.

It was a dream to be on Broadway as a kid, so to actually end up there, I loved it.

My first love is a wonderful script. It's the story.

Being in the theatre is like being in a little family: you get really close.

I am not a practising Jew, and I am not embedded in Nigerian culture, but I have a sense of those things inside me, which is very handy for acting. There are a lot of things I can draw on.

There is a lot more opportunity now, and I welcome all the conversations we are having about diversity, about women and about class... I come from a very working-class background, and I think the class thing is still probably more tricky.

With everything in my life, I don't think too much ahead.

I like having the script before I start. With new plays, you're constantly developing as you're doing it. It's really frightening. You don't quite know how it's going to end up.

I always find something in all the characters I play. I fall in love with them a little bit.

I'm not from an acting family. I'm from a working class family.

The photo shoot I always feel a bit embarrassed about because I don't really know what to do with myself, but they usually don't use a bad photo, so you can't worry too much. So my main concern is that I just look a bit more like myself.

I love the industry I'm in, and it's been really generous to me.

Theatre has always been ahead in terms of colourblind casting.