I think we all remember Emma Peel from 'The Avengers,' the feminist icon that she was in the late '60s.

I was a very physical child... I was a tree-climber; I was a tomboy.

Women are over 50 percent of the population.

I always tell people this: to be a savvy politician or a good head of state and to be charitable are not mutually exclusive things.

I'm a bed monster.

When I was a little girl, my grandfather, who I was very close to, used to grow yellow roses. He had yellow roses growing all the way up his drive.

It really bugs me the way people criticise how actors look. We're not models. Models exist.

I think the beauty of the writing of 'Game of Thrones' is not that the characters are fearless; it's how they overcome their fear, you know?

It's a writer's or director's role to be cerebral, whereas for an actor it should be a visceral, gut thing. When the action starts, it's best to turn the brain off and let it become an instinctual thing.

I know I'm not a conventional beauty. You can read a lot of painful things on the Internet, which criticise you aesthetically - but as far as I'm concerned, that's not what an actress is.

Actors have this amazing skill - we bond quite quickly but equally we move on quite quickly. There's nothing particularly cold or capricious about it - we're troubadours and lead a troubadour's lifestyle.

I feel like I've really earnt my stripes - I feel ready to play a lead. I would just love to prove I'm good enough to carry a project.

These are moments in your life to be cherished; they don't come around that often. To be flying around in a 'Game of Thrones' jet, to be greeted by massive enthusiasts.

I'm not clever enough to be in machinations and real politics.

I had a period of unemployment for about nine months after my first big break, and it's the greatest lesson I ever could have learned, never to believe you're home and dry.

There are a lot of parallels between the historical Henry VIII and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. There's an oscillation and extremity of emotion throughout his repertoire that lends itself beautifully to the nature of Henry VIII, definitely. He will push things to the limit, and yet remain in emotional control.

Anne Boleyn is an intriguing character. She seems to appeal to modern-day women in a very potent way. Because she was such an independently opinionated and spirited young woman, which at the time was unheard of.

I try to stay consciously away from the roles of the girl who throws herself at the leading man, because I've done it a lot and I want to move on. I ticked that box.

I did every job under the sun from bartending to ushering to temping.

It's fascinating how much of our sense of attractiveness and feminine identity is bound up in our hair.

I'm a serial monogamist and would never dream of being as predatory as some of the women I've played. I can actually be a bit shy.

I'm a massive yoga head. Lots of yoga and lots of running. I do Bikram yoga. I adore it.

Because of my job, I get a lot of opportunity to grab a few days here and there in many cool cities for press commitments, magazine shoots and premieres - Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Paris, Stockholm, New York, Berlin. I always try to get to a gallery or museum if there's time.

The Gili Islands gave me some of my best scuba diving experiences, including tons of turtles.

The train system in India is chaotic and fun - it's the best way to see the landscape. Being in with all the families and also being the odd animal is a colourful experience you'll never forget.

I'm a 'Blackadder' girl.

Make-up is all about shading; it's about tactical application.

I'm a feminist in the true sense of the word. It's about equality.

What I love about 'Mockingjay, Part 1' is that President Coin or Cressida could have easily been played by a man, and if you look at 'Interstellar,' the Anne Hathaway or Jessica Chastain roles would have been men years ago.

I'm glad that cinema is catching up to what television has known for a while: That three-dimensional, complex women get an audience engaged as much as the men.

I've taken my clothes off enough in my career.

I'm a natural blonde!

We live in one of the most complex ages for young, professional women.

I love being part of huge mega blockbusters, and I love being a part of small independent films and small stage.

I think every actor brings something personal to a role, right?

When I see a fan coming over, I can't help but make an assumption about what they want to talk about. A middle-aged American woman will head over, and I think, 'Game of Thrones.' Turns out it's 'The Tudors' or 'Elementary' or 'The Hunger Games.' It's always a surprise.

I've played a lot of elegance and refinement, so to do something really down and dirty is a great attraction.

As a child, I was prancing around in my mother's high heels and a ra-ra skirt, singing 'Material Girl' into my hairbrush.

It's funny how being an actor forces you to do things or go places that you wouldn't ordinarily.

Women have a lot of... attitudes enforced in us about our sense of attractiveness being bound up in long, flowing, Hollywood kind of hair.

The beauty of 'The Hunger Games' and also 'Game of Thrones,' in fairness, both projects have really complex, three-dimensional, contradictory, strong women... The writing of female characters is extraordinary and equal to the men.

I've never been far from the river. I'm sort of like a Thames-nymph.

More often than not, I get cast as quite Machiavellian roles - it's something about my face; I'm quite shifty or something!

Network shows shoot so fast, so you kind of have to just go with your instinct.

I was frequently told at drama school that I was thinking too much. And I still have to suppress that part of me because it can sometimes be a hindrance.

I love poker!

I've been insane from a very early age.

When girls bully, it's very subtle, and you can't define it. At least with boys, the bullying is usually explicit, and you can deal with it. It's psychological with girls.

I want to keep people guessing.

Sci-fi always runs out a little bit ahead of reality, right? Automatic doors in 'Star Trek,' stuff like that. It all happened, didn't it, finally?