Quotes from JJ's interviews

"We uptight Brits love that restrained passion!" TV & Satellite Week 2007 (on filming Northanger Abbey)   

"Bath was such a sensual place at the time, but the book's also about finding love and real relationships in surroundings that are sexually charged. In the Gothic scenes, Catherine is always being whisked off by some handsome man to be ravished in a corner. But she's always got a smile on her face. If she didn't, then I dont think it would work. It's got to be funny and a bit tongue in cheek, otherwise it'd become a bit pretentious. I didnt enjoy any literature at school, but when the director sent me a copy of the novel, I was amazed how enthralling it was" TV Choice 2007(on filming Northanger Abbey)

"The strangest scenes I've ever had to shoot were the fantasy scenes, which involved sword fighting, being airbrushed with white make-up to look gothic, running around in a cow field with horses - which seem to dislike me - and slipping in cow pats all night in the rain! And all whilst trying to look dashing! We spent some time with a stunt man called Phillipe Zone, who was convinced that as long as we try to kill each other then it will look convincing!! We also spent a lot of time training on the horses I had a beautiful gray called Smirnoff who liked to bolt at the sight of a camera. So I managed to gallop around most of the Wicklow countryside, unintentionally, to try to get control of her." Memorable TV 2007(on filming Northanger Abbey)

"I've got a better one. I was meeting the heads at 20th Century Fox, it was quite soon after Last Orders as well. And I'd never been to Fox before, and I went in there in awe of these studios, and you get driven round in your little golf cart, and I was there to 'discuss a movie' - I didn't even know what that meant. Normally you just beg and do auditions. But one of the chief execs at Fox goes, 'Yeah, you know who you remind me of? You're like a younger, goofier version of Jude Law'. I'm just hoping Jude Law's going to do a film with a goofy younger brother." Little White Lies 2007 

JJ Feild reckons there's no way he could live in the 18th Century where the Jane Austen adaptation is set - because he's far too badly behaved. The 29-year-old hunk - who starred alongside gorgeous Billie Piper in The Ruby In The Smoke - said: "I'd be thrown out of that society in a minute. I'd be kicked out for lewd behaviour before I'd even got to the bar." The Sun 2007 (on filming Northanger Abbey)

Nude scenes are his most hated part of the job. 'You're supposed to focus on this passionate scene and all you can think is: "Oh God, my bits are hanging out" Observer 2007

He's got a busy year ahead. First up in film O Jerusalem, then he appears in the first live-action Manga film. 'They called and said they had me in mind for the part. I've no idea why; they couldn't have looked at Mrs Beeton and thought: he'd be great at Manga' Observer 2007

And Henry, played by JJ Feild, will be shown naked as he washes one morning. "There was a scene of me naked, but luckily my bum managed to stay out of that shot, even though I'd flown my bum double in from LA for the occasion," says the actor, laughing. The Independent 2007(on filming Northanger Abbey)

JJ Feild, on his work with Peter Greenaway: “I've been working on this now for 18 months. We're close to finishing the second film and we have a third film, which I hope I will be a part of. With the amount of multimedia, who knows, there's an unlimited potential for my commitment to this project! I don't think this project as in any way an end date. It just seems to open more and more doors. As to my future commitment, I leave that up to Peter's imagination. As to working with Peter, it's been a privilege – absolutely fantastic. To work with somebody who's got such a wealth of knowledge and ideas and imagination, for such newcomers like myself, it's fascinating.” Cannes Film Festival 2003

Luper is brought to life by the angelic-looking young actor JJ Feild. "It's quite hard to talk about my character, " he says, "because it is so much Peter's creation. It's a study of being in prison. People want Tulse for his creative talents, he thrives on crisis situations to fuel his artworks. The people who try to mould him him to their sociaty." And the inevitable sex scenes? He laughs: "My first was in a cherry orchard, drenched in cherry juice. But I wasnt really nervous because naked people always look beautiful in Peter's films." Sunday Times July 2002 by Lesley White

Feild, for his part, admits that he was quite nervous about joining such an auspicious cast, and has nothing but praise for his co-star McTeer. "Janet's a brilliant actress and very generous," he says, "and because she co-wrote this story she was remarkably easy to work with. She knows exactly what's going on." Interview for The Intended 2002