Laura Carmichael

There is no way I'd have wanted to live in the Twenties. It was really crap for women.

I'm from Southampton.

I did all sorts of jobs after drama school - working in a bar, as a teaching assistant. I probably learned as much from them as I did at drama school.

I don't really go out that much, if I'm honest. I'm quite a recluse. If I had my way, I'd probably be at home most of the time with a book and a cup of tea or glass of wine.

If you're going to go to an audition, you don't want to go in trying to force yourself into some archetype that has been thought up by a director and translated by a casting director.

I'm not a morning person: I can't function until I've had a coffee - or several.