"Although this is a fictitious story the history is real. You don't want to re-write history but you certainly want to portray events and characters as realistically as you can."

"It's difficult to gauge that. With a bad guy you just know you're bad. To play a nice guy is harder - unless you are a very nice person like me of course."

"I talked to everyone about the project: actors and extras, members of the crew and passers by."

"There are lots of people I admire and respect, but I don't necessarily want to be like them. I'm to happy being myself."

"When I left school I went to Australia for a year and worked in the drama department of a school in Perth."

"There is an odd sense of responsibility attached to appearing in a drama about a real piece of history. A work of fiction is fun."

"I don't have any expectations as an actor and being rich and famous is not my driving force."

"It felt good doing a physical job, and going home each evening feeling like I had really done a day's work."

"It was only when I finished the course and left my graduation diploma on the bus that I realised I'd become an actor."

"Now here I am playing a passionate young Irishman who would die for what he believes in."

"The reason I wanted to be an actor is that I don't want to play me for the rest of my life and make money out of that."

"I went further and further back through the centuries to get a sense of perspective but now at least I understand why Irish history evokes such strong passions and emotions."

"Baddies always do get the best lines, that's the honest truth."

"I find it incredibly romantic that people should fight for a cause they believe in and be prepared to die for it."

"I'm more interested in enjoying my life and looking after my family than being hugely successful."