How have you been able to find a peace with these feelings?
I practise meditation, I try to look after my body, myself, the corner of the world I live in, I try to stay connected to the idea that if you put love out you’re doing as well as you can. That’s why, whenever I can, I try to draw attention to things. Sometimes when you get a bit of success, people would like you to stop, but it’s about using your position to talk about things that matter. You’ve got people who are like ‘I don’t want to hear actors talk about it’ but why can’t I talk about it?

Angels In America sold out in minutes, were you surprised at people’s appetites for it?
When you give the public complex stuff that’s truthful, they f**king love it. This play transcends everything. I love how quickly it sold out, and the demographic of people who bought tickets – young people who have never been to the theatre before; I saw a young couple of gay guys outside the theatre, eyes shining. At the end [of the play] there’s a speech that says, “We will no longer die secret deaths” and every time I hear it I feel like this play is an homage to all those men and the women who supported those who died of a disease that wasn’t even recognised by the [US] government because their whole community was shrouded in shame.

What do you do away from the stage?
I watch a lot of crap TV. The Real Housewives of f**king everywhere. I know them all. A young actress said, “Oh my god, I can’t believe you watch that.” Isn’t it funny what people project onto me? Thinking I sit around reading plays and making political placards. I go to yoga, I started Barry’s Bootcamp. It’s hell, one day I’m going to walk out, but it makes me feel great after.

Are you a good cook?
I’m good at it, but I can’t be arsed. If money was no object I’d have a chef. I love going out to eat. I love Okko on Hackney’s Broadway Market and we went to a nice tapas place in Stoke Newington the other day called Escocesa. I’m going to need to be really rich, I spend all my money on food.

It’s interesting to hear you talk about money, it’s still such a taboo...
I was broke. If you’re a creative, from a lower class background, then chances are you’re going to find it difficult. I have no problem with the upper classes doing great work as long as they’re doing great work. But there’s a difference when you walk into a room needing a job because you need the f**king cash. I’m starting to have that lovely feeling that I can rest in those three weeks between jobs, not that long ago I would have had to find something, I couldn’t eat otherwise.

Stylist talks stage acting, complex roles and money with Denise Gough