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Can you talk a bit about the difference in dynamic and work ethic between preparing and performing for stage vs. filming a television series?  Do you find any differences in how you approach a singular self contained character with an endpoint (such as Hedda Gabler) vs. a recurring character that has potential future arcs and progression?

Stage gives you a through line - a life you live from beginning to end, whatever that journey may be.  In film and TV, that journey is disjointed.  That requires more intense concentration and the ability to jump back and forward in time.  In some ways it's more satisfying because once you live that experience it's over and you don't need to relive it night after night.  However, I think theatre gives you more control.  Theatre is you [the actor], the audience and the text.  It's not about close ups, editing, and the cutting room floor.  Control lies with you and what you do night after night.  Whereas in TV and film, the end product is [more] about what happens in the edit room.  That's just a personal preference for me.  It may change- I'm still young and learning.

You have your own production company for theatre (Cheeky Maggot - great name by the way) and are involved in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  You also write poetry.Do you have any pet projects that you are developing or are passionate about bringing to the screen or stage?

My theatre co-promotes new writing.  We work with unpublished writers.  We have workshops and rehearsed readings all about getting the work to the highest possible standard.  We also do devised work- starting from scratch.  I am still putting together a new creative team.  I have been so busy with the acting recently that it's had to take a back seat.  But my dream has always been to have my own theatre company so I shall perservere.  If now is not the time for that, I will have to believe that the right time will come soon.

Do you have a dream list of directors or leading men you would like to work with?

I would love to work with [Sam] Mendes [American Beauty, Road to Perdition], Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Tarantino.  In the old days, it would have been Jack Lemmon, Cary Grant, [Audrey] Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart.  I love all the classic films like Roman Holiday, All About Eve, Some Like it Hot and I think Godfather is just a masterpiece.  I recently saw Kenneth Branagh in [David] Mamet's Edmond at The National in London and he was wonderful. That was another inspiration. Another dream director would be Stephen Frears [Dirty Pretty Things, My Beautiful Laundrette].  Recently a film was on here on Channel 4 called The Deal about the beginnings of the New Labour ideal.  I think we need more political theatre and film and TV.  So much is going on in the world and what better place to represent that than in the Arts.  Too often people shy away from anything vaguely political.  But I think it's important to know what you believe in and to then take the opportunities to express that if you can in a constructive way.  Stephen Frears seems to be doing that right now and that's exciting.  The Arts can break down so many barriers and prejudices if done in the right way.

Your bio says that you are learning guitar.  I was curious what your favorite groups are and if you ever use music as preparation for a role or to set your mood for a piece.

My guitar learning is very slow - I may not have the patience.  I love acoustic music.  I'm a big fan of Dylan, Matchbox 20 and folk music like Mary Black - but also Hendrix and Bowie.  I'll never be in that league, but I like the way music can take you out of yourself for a bit and relax the mind completely.

Shooting for Murder Squad will be completed in October.  Do you have any projects lined up for the near future that you would like to comment on or promote?

I have a few other projects lined up.  At the moment I am filming for the BBC at the same time as this.  There may be a few other projects in the new year - but until I sign that dotted line I can't say much else. Murder Squad will be out in the new year - we don't have an exact date yet.  Each episode is 90 minutes and, as I said, each is very different, making the whole series very exciting.

Murder Squad can be seen starting early 2004 in the U.K. on ITV1