For me… just being part of that canon of great female parts that all actresses like to play, whether it be having your Lady Macbeth moment, your Cleopatra moment, those classic, iconic roles for women, for me, Margaret Schlegel in literature was very much that. Em [Thompson] knows all about it, and was very delighted for me.

Hayley Atwell

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From a very young age, stories fuelled my imagination in the most wonderful way.

Hayley Atwell

imagination age stories

My real self, the self I have always been from a child, is a loner and nerd, slightly overweight, with a very heavy fringe. That is who I was as a kid. I don't think I will ever be anything other than that.

Hayley Atwell

real kids children

Documenting trips makes them that much richer. I stick in train tickets and business cards from restaurants. It makes the whole experience poetic, describing the sights, smells and sounds around me. It means I can relive the holiday years later.

Hayley Atwell

holiday sight mean

I loved watching theatre, and film, and television. It was a fantastic outlet and my favourite thing to do. I can't remember the decision. It just felt like a completely natural thing... I just completely felt drawn into it and seduced by it all. I found myself going into it.

Hayley Atwell

theatre decision remember

I am often lost in my own world, with a frown on my face.

Hayley Atwell

faces lost world

Because I trained in theater, I always leave a film shoot feeling like I haven't done anything, like I just sat in front of the camera and whispered, essentially.

Hayley Atwell

cameras done feelings

I'd love to do an action movie. Something with lots of stunts. Anything fast and dangerous and involving guns.

Hayley Atwell

dangerous gun action

I read a lot of heavy literature when I'm on set, so on holiday I want to indulge in something light-hearted.

Hayley Atwell

indulge-in holiday light

I've had that experience of not liking people very much, but having tremendous respect for them.

Hayley Atwell

people

The art of conversation consist as much in listening politely, as in talking agreeably.

Hayley Atwell

communication talking art

I can't imagine it if beauty was the only currency I used as an actress. It just doesn't interest me.

Hayley Atwell

currency actresses imagine

I went to drama school for three years, and the whole thing there is that hopefully you are introduced to a man called William Shakespeare who is the greatest of all time of all storytelling.

Hayley Atwell

drama men school

Although I grew up in London, I spent summers in Missouri, where my dad lived. It's quite a liberal town, Kansas City. You'd be surprised.

Hayley Atwell

dad cities summer

I think American guys tend to be a bit more forward, a bit more chatty and open than the Brits. The Brits seem to have a darker sense of humor, though I have met some Americans who have adopted bits of the British dry sense of humor as well.

Hayley Atwell

dry guy thinking

I don't think I'm curvaceous. It's simply that most other actresses are really, stupidly tiny.

Hayley Atwell

tiny actresses thinking

My first job was a Greek tragedy, and ever since, one job just seemed to roll onto the next. I've been terribly lucky.

Hayley Atwell

tragedy greek jobs

I like characters who have faults. I'm drawn to darker people.

Hayley Atwell

faults character people

I'm not really into makeup, not really into fuffing with hair and stuff.

Hayley Atwell

makeup hair stuff

I think it's always easier to play parts that you have something concrete that you can relate to.

Hayley Atwell

easier play thinking

I'm deeply ambitious and I always have been.

Hayley Atwell

ambitious has-beens