Stephen Root

I'm lucky I get to work a lot.

In order for comedy to be funny you have to play the truth of the moment. But if you're not being completely truthful to the basis of the character, its not going to be funny.

I've been able to do a lot of interesting things.

My first career ambitions involved turning into a boy; I intended to be either a railway guard or a knight errant.

When I do my makeup, it kind of helps me get into the character that I'm trying to portray.

Live Below the Line raises real money to help the world's poorest people, but it is also a symbolic demonstration aimed at highlighting - not replicating - the plight of the world's poor.