RALPH INESON

Nobody knows what they're doing, so don't be afraid to try things.

At castings for commercials, you end up being told to do ridiculous things, such as animal impersonations. You probably get one commercial for 20 utter humiliations.

I don't think you can predict success, but you get a feeling if something's going to be good or bad.

When I am stressed I pluck my beard, leaving bald patches.

Mo-cap work is less technical than you'd expect. Once you have it all set up you're free to do the whole scene in one take rather than doing a lot of different shots and different takes like you do in a movie. You've got that one go at it and you've got a lot of freedom. You can really express yourself - more like doing theatre than doing a movie.

Everyone says comedy is really hard, but with 'The Office' the naturalism was everything so it didn't feel like doing comedy; it just felt like doing a really offensive character who thought he was funny.

I think 'The Witch' was actually my 100th job. Only took me 100 jobs to get a lead! But it did change things a lot. It was a magical thing for Rob Eggers to pick me out of the all the actors he could have for that part. It was an amazing part. It's changed my career massively.

Once I won the roles in 'Spender' and 'First Knight' it was much easier for everyone, me included, to get their heads around the idea of me being an actor.

I'm sure most actors, after a while, get a bit jaded.

I've always wanted to be a Bond villain. I'll probably have to do make do with being a henchman but I'd be quite happy to do that.

Not that I am hugely working class, but in the U.K. I'm always perceived, casting-wise, as being working class.

The Office' was nothing like anything I had ever done before - the style, everything. And Finchy is so over the top, I really did think it would ruin my career.

I'm usually the bad guy, you know, but I do a lot of different genres of acting.

When I am stressed I pluck my beard, leaving bald patches.

I have been so lucky when it comes to work. It's great to do so many different roles.

Nobody knows what they're doing, so don't be afraid to try things.

Mo-cap work is less technical than you'd expect. Once you have it all set up you're free to do the whole scene in one take rather than doing a lot of different shots and different takes like you do in a movie. You've got that one go at it and you've got a lot of freedom. You can really express yourself - more like doing theatre than doing a movie.

I don't think you can predict success, but you get a feeling if something's going to be good or bad.

Finchy is foul. And there is no way I would be mates with him.

I have two amazing children.

I have a penchant for Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton.

Once I won the roles in 'Spender' and 'First Knight' it was much easier for everyone, me included, to get their heads around the idea of me being an actor.

I'm bad with money.

Because of the way I look, I tend to play bad guys.

I'm sure most actors, after a while, get a bit jaded.

You can't go wrong with pirates. I mean, they're pirates. It's what everyone wants to be when they're a kid. Ninja, assassin, or a pirate - and now you can kind of be all three.

Let's face it I have never been a pretty boy and so it's not as if I am going to lose my looks.

My granddad was not a tall man but he weighed about 27 stone and my first memory is crawling across his belly. I remember it being a journey.

It can be embarrassing being associated with a character like Finchy - people naturally assume you're just like him. Some people come up and tell me the most appalling sexist or racist joke they know because they see me as him.

Everyone says comedy is really hard, but with 'The Office' the naturalism was everything so it didn't feel like doing comedy; it just felt like doing a really offensive character who thought he was funny.

After university, I taught in a sixth-form college in York for a year and a half before deciding to try acting.

I always just like to do good stuff, and I'm very, very lucky that I do almost everything. I do theatre, radio, TV, film, and also comedy and drama as well.

I've always wanted to be a Bond villain. I'll probably have to do make do with being a henchman but I'd be quite happy to do that.

At castings for commercials, you end up being told to do ridiculous things, such as animal impersonations. You probably get one commercial for 20 utter humiliations.

I think 'The Witch' was actually my 100th job. Only took me 100 jobs to get a lead! But it did change things a lot. It was a magical thing for Rob Eggers to pick me out of the all the actors he could have for that part. It was an amazing part. It's changed my career massively.