What was it like working with Richard Attenborough in Closing the Ring, Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense, and Hugh Grant in Notting Hill? Also why the obsession with horror films? MrSOBaldrick
Richard I loved because he was like a mentor to me. He’s probably single-handedly done more for my career than anyone else. Just taking me under his wing, putting me in Rada, especially coming off the back of my crazy run on television. I couldn’t tell you how he found me. I don’t think he ever really told me.
Bruce was amazing. He was so great with the kids and a lot of fun. The Sixth Sense was a massive movie set; a huge production. When we went to do the indie film [2008’s Assassination of a High School President] together, he was always playing guitar in his trailer, so I look back very fondly on that. He lights up a room when he walks into it and he’s just a lovely guy.
I’m probably the biggest Hugh Grant fan ever, not least because I got to work with him when I was little and he was so nice to me. We were also born in the same hospital in Hammersmith [in west London], which doesn’t exist any more, but I’ll take as my claim to fame. Every Halloween, The Sixth Sense seems to get watched. At Christmas, Notting Hill comes back out, so always I look back fondly.
Horror films are good for strong female leads. I’d rather be doing something serious and dramatic than I would fluffy. I think it’s just the nature of the scripts. I mean, you’ve got to have a strong female if she’s going to get out of there alive …
Actors used to be like most other professions, but are now often treated as dispensers of wisdom, with a philosophy and insight above ordinary mortals. What changed? eamonmcc
I don’t think anything’s changed. I think people still hold actors in too high regard for their opinions. It’s an age-old question and I don’t know why. Actors are supposed to exemplify something we want to be like, but that doesn’t mean they know better than anyone else.
When portraying Miranda Green in Invitation to Murder, did you draw inspiration from any particular murder mystery novels or films? VerulamiumParkRanger
It’s loosely based on Agatha Christie, but it’s an original screenplay. I like Miranda because she is a strong woman, especially for the 1930s. She’s wearing the pants, running around solving mysteries. She’s incredibly well read and she’s great fun to play. This is the first of a trilogy, which I’m over the moon about. We’ve shot the second already. I really love growing with a character and getting to know them.
You really stood out in your early roles in Lawn Dogs and Lost and Delirious. Did you need help from your parents getting the Brit accent back? How did you find performing on stage in Ireland in Steel Magnolias, given your family connections? repoman71 and Rfolear
I rely on speech coaches, not my family. My family comes from different parts of England. I’m a proud Brit, but I’m also very proud of the Irish side of the family. My mom was so proud to see me at the Gaiety [theatre] in Dublin, she literally cried. I took her to see the Irish dancing and she loved that too. It couldn’t have been more typically Irish. We went to Cork, Galway and Limerick. In at least three of the theatres, somebody sent a note backstage saying: “I’m related to you. If you want to come up to the front and meet me, I’m your such and such cousin.” It was really cute.
How have your views about fame and Hollywood changed over the years? What advice would you give young actors coming up today on how to deal with fame? EmmaStone and hhhhssss
Fame is not something everybody has to deal with, so that’s a very specific question. I would say: concentrate on your craft. Fame is something that generally comes to people who don’t particularly seek it. Just concentrate on what you’re in the business for in the first place, and try to take the rest with as much grace and humility as possible. I was a pretty introverted, shy child, so for me acting got me out of school and around cool adults, and I got to go cool places. I have always loved storytelling, and I still love being able to lose myself in a character.
How did you end up doing the video for Everybody’s on the Run for Noel Gallagher? Are you an Oasis fan? Have you got tickets [for the reunion tour]? JCMP555
I’ve hung out with Noel before. We have mutual friends, so he just asked me. He’d just started High Flying Birds and was coming to LA. I think he knew I lived there and hoped I would be available. It was fun. I don’t know how I felt about getting my skirt ripped off. I was like: “Is this really what we’re doing?” But I’m still super-glad I did it because they’re the coolest. Have I got tickets? Are you kidding? I’m a huge Oasis fan. What kind of self-respecting Brit would I be if I wasn’t? I took my big sister Zoe to see them at Wembley [in 2000], which was on my bucket list. I could try to pull a favour, but I think everybody and their mother wants tickets. I might have to wait till they come to America instead of trying to crash the Europe dates, but we’ll see.
What was it like having all those bands like the Killers play on The OC and did you get to hang out with them? TurangaLeela2
That was probably one of the highlights of the whole show. I got quite close to Rooney, Phantom Planet, and Modest Mouse – one of my favourite bands – which I’ll never forget. Later, when I went to see them on tour, I was like: “Remember me?” We’d gruel away at the episodes, then they’d be like, “Now it’s band night”, and we would be absolutely thrilled. I think the whole cast and crew got a kick out of it. I made quite a few friends and even a couple of boyfriends off the back of it.
• Invitation to a Murder is on digital platforms
