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On network TV, I'm still Phoebe to people, and it would be hard to convince them otherwise in the bright lights of a sitcom.

It is impossible to watch a 'Friends' episode too many times. Phoebe is my favourite character. I used to play her songs on the guitar when I was a teenager. 'Smelly Cat' is very easy. It's only about three chords.

But I do believe that in all my shows, I really enjoy the quirky, the eccentric characters, the ones you don't meet every day.

I firmly believe, only because I've been doing this for so long, every show takes three years. 90% of them don't get three years. It just does. It takes a long time to build a community, build a friendship with your characters. It's hard for people to grasp on and make them care about you.

Yeah, it's fun to be somebody you're not, to bring a character to life.

'Coronation Street' was my first job, Zoe was a controversial character, and I wasn't used to everyone looking at me.

I loved playing Chandler. I grew up playing that part.

I'd say that on 'Friends' my character was the guy bouncing around the room. I'm no longer that guy, necessarily, in my life. I used to be. But I'm not now.

I try to inhabit each of the characters as fully as I can, however short-lived they are. But most of my show happens offstage.

I think you can find yourself on one of these shows for a long period of time and think that all you'll ever be able to do is that character. Certainly people think of you that way.