I don't know why I get cast in a lot of period pieces. Stephen Fry told me that I had a face for period, that I look like someone from 1920.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
And I guess I have a face and a look that sort of lends itself to period costume!
When I was younger, I was always being told I had a period face, but 'Bel Ami' was my first shot at it.
There aren't as many roles for people who look like me, and it was always complicated when it came to casting my parents. But now I couldn't be more grateful that I have a different look.
I'm something of a history buff. It's deliberate that a lot of my films have been period pieces.
More often than not, I get cast as quite Machiavellian roles - it's something about my face; I'm quite shifty or something!
I always think my face is quite nondescript - it sort of fits in to any period. It's not really distinct enough for you to remember me from something.
I'm forever being told that I'm an odd-looking actress, so it's great playing parts where there's no vanity. You just look as rough as you possibly can!
Sometimes when you're working on a period piece, there's this tendency to be nostalgic about the period and do everything superglamorous, which can end up looking cliche.
It's deliberate that a lot of my films have been period pieces.
I'm not an actor who is often asked to be in period things.