Quotes

I was really into films when I was younger but I feel like a bit of a phony sometimes - I started acting because I didn't know what else to do. I filled in all these university application forms and honestly didn't want to do any of the courses. I spontaneously signed up to a part-time acting class at the same time. Then I did a full-time course, then went to drama school. When I started there I realized it's what I wanted to do. Being around committed people was very inspiring.

[on what films he likes] Spielberg as a kid but when I got a bit older there were loads more - the Danny Boyle movies, the Irish guys Jim Sheridan and Neil Jordan. My dad had a small part in Michael Collins, driving a vintage car.

Will McGregor, one of the directors on Poldark, sends me things, and he said, "You have to know this is happening - your hair has its own Twitter account." That's outrageous. If I was an avid social media person, it would freak me out quite a bit.

In 'The Hobbit,' there were British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand actors, and Peter Jackson was adamant that we would all sound like we were from Britain somewhere.

I tend to not read... well, that's my party line anyway, that I don't read press. But it's hard because anywhere you go, you walk into a newsagent or a supermarket and you see that scything shot, with my top off. So that's weird. But nothing else has changed. There's a bit of activity with work, there's more scripts coming in and for the first time ever I feel like I'm in a real position of choice. I live in Dublin, where I don't get hassled, which is really nice. It changes slightly in London, but in Dublin I slip under the radar.

I don't take myself that seriously. That's not to say I don't care about what I do, but I realize I'm in a very privileged position, and it comes with the territory. It's not bad stuff. If women want to go, "Phwoar, look at Poldark, he's gorgeous and handsome, I'd love to take him home," well why should I feel offended?

To make a career as an Irish actor, generally it's the case that you move to London. When you make that move, you do tend to stand out.

On Poldark Series/Season 1 "When you're galloping across the moors on your horse you don't feel like one day there's going to be seven million people watching. I had no idea it was going to be received quite so well. I knew we had done a great show and I was proud of it, but I didn't know it would reach the mark that it did. So we're delighted."

I'm not an extravagant person. You don't get a chance to spend money when you're working on a TV show

[Remembering Warren Clarke] There's a day I remember very well-of course Warren Clarke [Charles Poldark, Ross's uncle] passed very soon before the show ends-and there's a scene I remember where we're both sitting on the horse. I had food poisoning that day. And I remember Warren felt so sorry for me, but he just kept cracking jokes all day and doing impersonations of [beloved British comedian] Tommy Cooper and I couldn't help but laugh the whole way through. He knew exactly what would make me feel better. And there's a sense of sadness when I think about that day, as well, and that scene for obvious reasons. It was a really special few months, making Poldark.

[On Eleanor Tomlinson, his co-star in Poldark] She's amazing. She's great. She's so cool. She's just really laid-back, really gorgeous. Just so much fun. We had a lot of fun on set. I think we're quite similar in our natures. We're kind of, I don't know, we have similar sort of attributes I guess that work really well together. It helps a lot because ... if we didn't get on I think the audience might see it, so thankfully we're good friends.

[Talking about Poldark] There's probably five or six series in it if we go that far, if it stays good and people continue to watch it. In between, the desire to play different characters is obviously there.

[Talking about Being Human] That's the life of an actor, you get so close to people for these kind of little snapshots in your life and these small moments and then they just sort of disappear and you move on to the next one and all you have is the memories, thank God. But no, "Being Human" is something I'm very proud of and I'm happy to have done.

[On meeting and working with Robin Ellis, the original Ross Poldark in 1975] He plays a small role in the series. He plays Reverend Halse, a judge, a small but very important role. He's a great guy. I spent a few days with Robin and he's such a wonderful person, really lovely guy. There's one scene in particular where Ross stands up in court for Jim Carter, who's a close friend of his, a young lad whose been convicted actually of poaching. Robin Ellis is looking down his glasses at the end of his nose at me with a judge's cape and wig on and I remember there's one scene where I kind of lose it with him and I kind of call him out on what he's doing and he's unfair and he doesn't know what he's talking about and he's got to change his ways and blah, blah, blah and I march out of the court room. I remember walking back in after that first take and I was kind of a bit nervous because I'm screaming at Robin Ellis. When I walked back in he just lowered his glasses and winked at me and gave me a little thumbs up. I thought, "God, I'm getting the thumbs up from the original Poldark. This is amazing." That kind of helped me a lot.

[on filming Poldark in Cornwall] It was an amazing experience, we were so lucky. We spent about 10 weeks there and we were all over Cornwall. There was a week we had a private, family owned beach to ourselves, in St. Austell. They just gave it to us for the week while we got the best of the British summer. It was just so idyllic, the entire shoot, everything was just so stunning. We were saying on set, when this goes out, people aren't going to believe we shot it in the UK, they'll think we went to Florence or the South of France or something, because it was actually just too beautiful. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. You don't have to leave the British mainland to find that sort of Paradise

[On his hair in Poldark Series 1] My hair was that length. It's a lot shorter now so if we do go again for a second series I don't know what we're going to do. I'm going to have to start growing my hair really fast. No, that was all me. That was all Aidan Turner hair. I don't know whether I'm that proud of it but-I mean it looks a bit 'wiggy' sometimes-but I guarantee you it is all mine.

I text her [my mother] a lot to let her know where I am and what I am doing. Even if I am out for the night in Dublin with friends and will be late home, I still keep her in touch. It is a habit but I actually like to put her mind at rest. If I'm staying over, I send her a text. I didn't do that when I was younger. I'm a very good boy. I behave myself. My mum's the number one in my life. I make sure she's looked after. I would never worry her. She likes watching Poldark but I think she prefers the original really! I smoke the occasional cigarette but she doesn't approve of that. I know she's right about that and most other things - that's what mums are for.

Theatre is always a good balance, It gets me into a good zone, and I enjoy it. I'm weighing up options

When I met up on Skype with Robert Krzykowski and we spoke for a couple of hours, just about the script, I knew that it was something special. He's just a very unique individual and a very smart guy. This is his first project, and it just felt so heartfelt. I couldn't quite put my finger on why I really adored it so much, but there was just something there. It was an all-around feeling and cadence of the whole piece, and I couldn't get it off my mind. And shooting the film was just beautiful

On working with Matilda De Angelis "There was a great tune and a lot of trust, we pushed each other and we gave each other moments of improvisation. It's the foundation of a good performance: if you build a connection with your colleagues then what you stage becomes authentic and vibrant ".

As an actor, to explore the inner workings of this great artist was a very exciting and humbling experience and I feel so fortunate to have worked with such a great team in Rome to make this series happen.

I feel so fortunate to have worked with such a great team in Rome to make this series happen.