Top 30 Russell Tovey Quotes

I’d actually quite like to try working behind a bar for a while. I’d give that a go.

I’ve got really good friends and family. My parents, after 30 years, are still incredibly in love, still make each other laugh, which is a beautiful thing to see. And my brother and his fiance are completely happy, so if I feel a bit lonely, I just go and sit with them and feel their love.

I grew up in Essex, and all my life I wanted to live in London – now I do. I feel very privileged to be able to live here.

I sort of challenge people’s perceptions of what a gay man is, which is kinda good.

I get told a lot that I’m kind of carving my own path. That there are not many actors who are out and are able to play straight and gay, and everyone’s OK with it.

I was a hairdresser’s assistant. I used to get 20p tips for washing an old woman’s hair. I used to get there at 8 A.M., leave at 6 P.M. and get £10.

I loved ‘Star Wars’. I had the toys.

I still feel I’m going to wake up any moment, and my skin’s going to break out all over.

My mum used to think it was the pill that made you gay. There was too much estrogen in the water, and people started taking the pill in the ’60s, and it made everybody gay.

Brits are cool at the moment. We’ve taken over the world, what with ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘Downton Abbey’, One Direction… to be British is to be fashionable.

I was so envious of everyone who went to Sylvia Young Theatre School. I wanted to go, but my dad flat-out refused. He thought I’d become some tapdancing freak without qualifications. And he was right in a way. I’m glad I didn’t go. That might have changed.

I never felt I was attractive to women. I felt I was attractive to men when I was growing up. And even now, if a woman fancies me, I find that a bit alienating.

I think a part of me romantically thinks it would be amazing to learn to dance or ice skate, but in reality, I don’t think it would be beneficial to my career.

I came out to myself when I was about 15 or 16, and to my parents when I was 18. When you come out to your parents, that’s when it’s properly official.

When I was younger, I had terrible skin… my mother has terrible skin. Male-pattern hair loss is starting to come in… my dad is bald. It’s so unfair; my brother’s tall, has perfect skin, great hair, but I’m like the runt.

When I was really young, I wanted to be a history teacher because I was obsessed with the past.

You can be cocky and confident, but when you start developing feelings for someone, suddenly your self-esteem drops a bit.

Being an uncle brings me utter joy.

The only thing I can give to young gay people is that when I was growing up, there were no role models that were blokey that were men. Everybody was flamboyant and camp, and I remember going, ‘That’s not me, so even though I think I am gay, I don’t think I fit into this world.’

I’d love the career of Julie Walters. As a man.

I’ve been so involved with TV shows, I’ve been unavailable for films, which is my dream.

My big advert was for ketchup. I come home from school, cook my brother and sister their dinner, ride my bike in the garden. Remember that one? People cried at that advert. It won awards. I was 12.

Every character I play is straight, which is unique, my agent says, because it’s not really been done before that someone who is completely out is able to play straight roles.

Romantically, in my head, I’m Rambo, but if someone’s shouting at me, I get adrenalin shakes and go red. When I’m really low, I have a good cry.

For me to play gay, it has to be something special because it might actually be more of a risk. So I’m waiting for that role – I want it to be something that moves things forward.

I just live in the moment. Or try to.

I auditioned for the role of Jamie Mitchell in ‘EastEnders,’ and it was between me and Jack Ryder, and he got it.

I’m not a romantic lead. I have sticking-out ears and a little troll nose.

When I was ten, I spent a school holiday watching a lot of films: ‘Dead Poets Society’, ‘Stand By Me’, ‘Home Alone’ and ‘The Goonies’. It completely inspired me. I told my parents I wanted to become an actor after that.

I think if I met Frank Auerbach or Jeff Koons, I’d be more wobbly than if I met Robert De Niro!