I've always wanted to make sure people are okay, ever since I was a little girl.

I like being a mother.

If the character is really well-rounded, and it's a really strong character, and if the writing is just fantastic, that's the thing that will hook me in, certainly.

If you get a script and it's really well written, that's always exciting.

I'm quite a good listener, and I'm good at looking after people.

[on Martin Freeman] He's one of my favorite actors. I'm biased but it's true. Watching him work is brilliant - every take he does something different. He's a really good actor and he's a really good person to have on set because he makes everyone feel relaxed. I learned a lot from Martin.

We were at Mark Gatiss's house when The Hounds Of Baskerville first came on the telly. Afterwards they went into the kitchen and were sitting talking about the next series. I went in and sat with them. It had been mooted that I would be in it, might have a little part in it. They were talking about who might play Mary and I was like, 'So, who are you thinking of?' and they said 'You'.

I was watching The X Factor the other day and I was thinking: you have no idea of rejection. This is the first thing you've done. You've wanted it all your life? Yeah, all your 16 years. Be an actor. Be an actor for about two years and see how that goes, because it's constant. The number of jobs that you get as a ratio to the number of times you are rejected is incredible.