Quotes from Zawe Ashton

I've always wanted to live somewhere extremely nice like Sloane Square... although that would probably be too nice for me.

I have no idea how to ever sell myself in a snazzy way.

My drama teacher when I was a kid called me 'Zawe the activist' and I had no idea why. Now I've got older I can see why she always saw that in me.

For me, food is all about nostalgia.

I got into a habit really early about not talking about work, ever.

If people call my book an actor's memoir I will be very upset. I can't bear anything too literal, so it has elements of truth and elements of fiction sitting side by side.

When I'm doing a play like 'Betrayal,' I have to be careful not to get stimulation overload.

I've had doors slammed in my face, I've been shouted at in my face in meetings when I've stood up for myself.

I'm Hackney born and bred and find it hard to call anywhere else home despite the extreme ongoing gentrification which gets me down.

I always play outsiders. I think I'm carrying a lot of those characters and I wonder if I play them because those characters need an extra element of thought to bring them to life.

I wanted to quit acting and as soon as I decided that, the call for 'Velvet Buzzsaw' came through.

I'm doing a play at Trafalgar Studios with The Jamie Lloyd Company - 'The Maids' by Jean Genet with Uzo Aduba and Laura Charmichael, directed by Jamie Lloyd. It's one of my favourite plays by one of my favourite playwrights.

I've always acted, it's my passion and belief system.

The actors I admire always have something to say, or a level of poetry, belief, activism or intelligence about what they do or how they feel.

Often when you're working on dark material, the atmosphere is fun.

As a director I would love to work with Marion Cotillard. She's so magical.