My favorite play in drama school was 'The Bacchae.' It's about a king who literally gets eaten alive by all the women in the play in a kind of orgy - it's related to the word 'bacchanal' - and I loved that idea of animalistic chaos and following our own desires.

I want the big drama. I always said I don't want a wedding I want a parade.

When you do a drama you are challenged to trust your inner voice much more. Because when you put a comedy in front of even a 25-person screening you know whether it's working or not. The barometer is overt.

If you try to bring 'teen drama ' you end up doing nothing but pouting.

Teen drug use went up dramatically in the 1990s.

If it wasn't for my drama teacher I wouldn't be here right now.

I got into acting my junior year of high school. We got a new hot drama teacher and I was like 'Alright I'll try drama.'

I had a great drama teacher and he sort of made out drama school as this incredibly difficult thing to get into: 6 000 people apply every year and some of the schools only have 12 places. It's a phenomenally difficult thing to get into. And that excited me - I wanted that challenge.

Before I got Doctor Who I went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. I went back to take the final grade exam which is the grade you have to take before you can take the teacher's diploma.

I wasn't originally taking drama but the drama teacher asked me to audition for Bye Bye Birdie. I did and got the lead role. Initially I was kind of scared but once I did it I got bitten by the bug and loved it.