What roles would you most like to play still? - asked in 2003
Hundreds. How long have you got? Starting with Shakespeare, there are a load: Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, (TICK) Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost (TICK), Angelo in Measure for Measure, Richard II. I tried to persuade Michael Boyd to let me do Hamlet (TICK), but he'd already gone and signed up Toby Stephens! Other parts? Jimmy Porter in Look Back in Anger(TICK), Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest, either of the men in Closer. Early on in my career, at Dundee Rep, I played Tom in The Glass Menagerie and Edmund in Long Day's Journey into Night and I'd love to do both of those again, although I might be getting too old now, which is a worrying thought. The Crucible would be fantastic. I don't know if I could do John Proctor because they usually like someone beefier, but Reverend Hale would be good. In fact, I'd love to do any Arthur Miller - A View from the Bridge, All My Sons, Death of a Salesman, the lot. I could go on. There are just so many good plays.
What Shakespearean role would you like to play? - asked in 2007
There are so many! I haven’t done Hamlet – it would be nice to do that while I’m still young enough! Iago, Benedict, Richard II, I could go on – they’re all great parts.
Well here's hoping he gets to tick another box at the RSC next year with Richard II.