Quotes

[on his ideal 2013 Emmys] I just watched the Louis C.K. special [Louis C.K. Oh My God (2013)]. If he doesn't win... He was just so brilliant. I'm also a huge Breaking Bad (2008) fan. They only had half a season, but even half a season of that is worth 10 of most other shows. Those guys and girls could easily throw a few more Emmys at them.

[on having to play 'Game of Thrones' character Jaime Lannister, having lost his normal fencing hand in the story] It's great. As an actor you have a character who's defined by his skills as a swordsman, and then you take away that one thing. It's great because it creates this huge obstacle. It's difficult for him to deal with as a person, but as an actor you live for those moments. Physically, it was a nightmare at the beginning because I had to have my arm down my left leg and my stump up here, but now it's fine.

I know nothing more annoying when people I don't know jump to conclusions on my person based on nothing but gossip or speculation.

I'm a huge 'Breaking Bad' fan; I would be really annoyed if anyone told me anything about what was going to happen in the last eight episodes.

I like to wear beautiful clothes, but I don't have that many.

What I love about acting is that you are exposed to so many different things. Horse-riding, sailing, travelling to amazing places.

The only thing I find difficult to watch - horror movies - not that I don't like them. Like 'The Shining,' it's one of my favorite movies, but it's terrifying. I feel like I've watched a marathon afterwards.

Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to be an actor.

A villain to me is someone who actively seeks to hurt someone or does things for his own gain.

All actors tend to be the same messed-up people.

As an actor, secrets and obstacles fuel the character.

I think we all have the capacity of evil in us.

I like to be comfortable.

I love political dramas. I love good story-telling.

I'm a fan of great storytelling.

I was 15 or 16 when I first saw 'Once Upon A Time In America,' so I was quite young, but I was completely blown away.

I try not to regret too much. I find that feeling guilty takes up so much of my time already.

I've never understood why you would turn down a great role.

If you look at most of the Royal Houses in Europe, the inbreeding was pretty outstanding.

Most female actresses will have a very difficult time being made unattractive.

One thing George R. R. Martin does is surprising things to main characters. But he says so himself.

It's beautiful being out in the wild.

I couldn't pick up a sword and go fight anyone, let me put it that way. It's choreography and it's acting. The best sword fights you see look amazing, but it's the acting that sells it more than anything.

You always dream of being part of a show that reaches and thrills an audience.

When I was a kid I was always afraid of small dogs, because they always seemed like the ones that would attack.

There's something liberating about watching someone not following the rules.

The more secrets and twists in a character, the better.

What's great about 'Game of Thrones' is they change the perspective, the POV, all the time. So you will have one story told by one character and you'll go, 'Oh my God, horrible', and then maybe the season after you have the same story told but from the person you thought was just the most horrible, vile creature.

You walk on the set [of Game of Thrones (2011)], and from the set designer to the costume designer, the whole thing transports you into this other world. So yes, it definitely helps you get into character. We were shooting in Belfast, it was raining and we were outside on horses, and I'm sitting there wearing my big armor. And someone brings you a coffee and you're sitting and having a cigarette. It struck me how ridiculous my job is, at times. You know? All these grown-ups dressed up for Halloween.