Going into auditions, there is a wonderful butterfly feeling in your stomach - an equal balance of being utterly terrified and exhilarated that this is your chance.

I never wanted to be a ginger.

When I left 'Downton Abbey,' it hadn't yet taken off and become the phenomenon that it is, to this day. That all happened after I left. But, it was fabulous to be a part of it and to be a part of the cast. We had an absolute ball!

I certainly relate to Ygritte in the fact that she is so strong and also ruthless as well and I feel that especially within 'Game of Thrones,' I think that as a show, it is one of the frontrunners for showing dominant female characters and making sure that men answer to women rather than the other way around.

I had the most fantastic time filming 'Downton.'

I definitely think it opened doors for me and what was so fantastic about 'Downton' being showed over in the States, was that it helped get me noticed.

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.

I believe art is utterly important. It is one of the things that could save us.

We do not judge great art. It judges us.

Art is a unifying language for all of us from across the world, and it transcends boundaries.

Art attracts us only by what it reveals of our most secret self.

Art does not reproduce what we see; rather, it makes us see.