I don't think I have ever thought of myself as a movie star. I think when I was about seven, I thought it must be lovely to have an Oscar. But the more involved you are in this business, the more that pretence disappears, and you really get to see what you love about it, and what I love is working.

I use the term 'spine' for people when I think that they may seem on the surface sort of reticent, shy, self-deprecating, shying away from the spotlight. Quiet.

I was moved by the 'Lovings' story because of my own background as a mixed-race person.

I trained, went to college, trained, and got a job. Then got another job. When I wasn't working I worked at a bar, then got another job.

I think if you don't risk something in art, it's not really important.

I don't like the term 'colour-blind' - because I don't want people to be blind to my colour.

I've met loads of black and brown and various people who are well into comics.

When I was a kid in Ireland, there were not very many black people. I was very much like the strange brown thing, intriguing and cute. I didn't experience racism there. The first time I did was in London. It was that moment that you realize you're black. A kind of lifting of the veil.

What I have wanted to do is take roles that are unexpected for people who look like me. Roles that the establishment would say, 'Oh, she couldn't possibly be that.'