I had a guidance counsellor who made me take an aptitude test, and told me I should be a bricklayer.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
The fact that I spent my life in universities in a manner that I no longer have close identification with bricklayers is a pain to me.
People said, That's great for your career, but what have you done? I kept feeling I had to defend myself.
I've had people accuse me of being too tough of a grader. But my job is to paint reality versus telling people what they want to hear.
I wasn't good at examinations, but I went to a very good secondary school - Bolton-on-Dearne - with wonderful teachers, who taught me drama and encouraged me in every way.
Well, you've got certain obstacles that get in your way throughout your career, but you have to be a strong individual.
A brick layer, lays bricks... I'm an Actor, that's what I do.
I thought I was going to school to be other people, but really, what I learned was to be myself - accepting myself, my strengths and weaknesses.
I always wondered if I was supposed to be excellent at something or not. I think, because of that, I have a lot of insecurities about myself.
Now in my theater training I showed no aptitude at all.
I had a ninth grade teacher who told me I was much smarter and much better than I was allowing myself to be.