« I do think it’s a little more interesting when things are offbeat; I’m drawn to that in what I wear, and also it applies to different aspects of my life. You’re not following the obvious form – I rather enjoy that. »
« I believe that we’re not alone. How can we be alone in an infinite universe? I’m using the word alien with a little trepidation because I know that sparks so many different versions of that word and there are so many different images that come in to one person’s head when someone says it. So I wouldn’t say I believe in aliens, but other life forms, absolutely. Think about the realms of possibility. The universe is so enormous and we have no idea what’s on the other side of the galaxy. »
« I feel there will be times when I will be working on jobs I love, and then there will be in-between periods where I hold back to find something that I’m passionate about. I think it’s very important to make sure I’m dedicated and invested in my future projects. »
« Living in France as a child made me feel European. My mum went to the Sorbonne university in Paris and always had a love affair with the place. My parents decided to give us the experience of living there too. I hated it at first, but, in the end, I loved it and I still speak fluent French. »
« I am a firm believer in being ambitious – if you don’t take part in the race then you can’t sulk if you don’t win. It’s not about being cut-throat or taking opportunities away from others, it’s about working as hard as you possibly can to attain your own personal goal – if you’re wanting to pursue what you dream of doing for the rest of your life then you have to count yourself in the race if you want to succeed. »
« I’m a dinosaur when it comes to social media. I don’t have any personal accounts, so I don’t really know if there’s much attention. I’m aware because of the shows and there is some element of hype behind it. But I genuinely, genuinely don’t try to engage on that front. I try to keep myself relatively private. I don’t really look for anything so it’s not really there in my periphery. »
« I think it’s important to do your own projects that mean a lot to you individually rather than be associated with someone else. I’m a big believer in doing your own thing. »
« My dream of acting came from the stage, from going to the theatre in the West End in London with my family. So my love of acting really grew from seeing plays, and then from performing in them. Doors were opened to the world of film and television once I started going to TV auditions – it was an organic introduction to the screen, that grew from working on stage. I used to be in plays all through school – so it’s always somewhere in the back of mind to return to theatre at some point. »
« I would say certainly the characters that appeal to me most are the women who are thrown out of their comfort zone. Seeing them grapple with their new situation – realising they have backbone and being able to fight against the tide – you could term that as strong. »
[about private life] « I think I would have been incredibly naive in setting out into this industry and thinking that is not something you sacrifice. I’m fully aware, and I know all the other cast members are, that is something you kind of give up if you are lucky enough to be on a show of this magnitude. I do feel there is some power within the actor to either embrace that or not, and so you can either put yourself out there with Twitter and Instagram and Facebook, or you can hang back on the sidelines. It’s obviously a personal preference, and it’s a wonderful thing to still be given opportunities, but I don’t think it has to be the be-all end-all. »
« Family, for me, is the most important thing because it is constant and real. Much as I love my job, it picks you up and it puts you down. »
« My plan B has always been psychology. I’m fascinated at observing human nature and body langage, and I think it kind of correlates with what an actor does in that respect. So if my career dries up, I reckon that will be my next conquest. »
[about seeing gifs of her on internet] « I think it’s a lovely thing to experience. Also it’s great to know the character is still being loved and still living on through the Internet. It’s a nice accolade. »
« My favourite memory from any job – and I think it’s going to be very hard to surpass – was being in Iceland where we filmed [Game of Thrones] for 7 months. Every scene was beautiful; oh my God it’s just breathtaking, whether we were on a frozen lake or up in the mountains or just surrounded by this extraordinary landscape. I felt like I was on the moon sometimes. »
« I think the wonderful thing about having gone to drama school is they made every single person well aware of just how cut-throat and hard this industry can be. So I was all too aware that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. »
« I’m extremely close to my mum. She’s a wise woman whom I admire so much. When I was cast as Ygritte, she ploughed through the books and became a fan of the show. Dad was not, though, as interested in Game of Thrones as my mum. We once bumped into each other at Heathrow – he was on a business trip, I was flying out to Iceland for season three of the series. He said, ‘Rosie! What are you doing here?’ And when I explained, he said vaguely, ‘Yes, yes. I think I knew about that show.’ Not too sure he did, though. »
« I wish I were as tough and strong as the women that I’m lucky enough to portray. I suddenly feel that I’ve learned a lot when it comes to standing up for your beliefs and answering back if you think that something is wrong, or if you’re passionate about something you believe in. »