Sophie Okonedo

Sophie: When I do things that aren't very good, I'm worse as an actor. I don't know what I pick up - but it's something not very nice.

(On being asked what she knew about Rwandan genocide when she took the role in the movie Hotel Rwanda) Sophie: Well, not very much. I mean, I knew a bit. I remember it being on the news. But, the reports I remember mostly were about the mass exodus of the Hutus at the end of the genocide, which sort of recapped what had happened. I mean, I was hearing some stuff. I did take it in. But, when I read the script, I realized I knew nothing. And it's rather a shame how it passed me by.

Sophie: I'm drawn to stories about ordinary people who get tangled up in an extraordinary event or idea or emotion. I'm not saying I don't love films about super-people or super-doctors, but my preference is for stories about how we get through this life, what it is to be human, because I'm always struggling with it myself.

Sophie: I'd hate to lose the character actress part of me, because, by God, the parts are much more interesting. As a black actress all I was offered in British film was the best friend role, whereas in TV I was offered a whole spectrum of parts. I'd love to be able to follow that through into my newly-formed film career which I didn't expect to get at 36!

Sophie: But I'm pretty secure about who I am. Anything that's truthful I'm not ashamed of.

Sophie: I don't like going for more than a year without doing theatre. I don't mind falling flat on my face so long as I feel I'm open to the possibility of something extraordinary happening.