The 5-minute Interview: Amara Karan, Actor

Amara Karan, 23, made her big-screen debut in Wes Anderson's 'The Darjeeling Limited', which is released on DVD next week, and is playing Jessica in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 'Merchant of Venice'.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

Learning my lines for the Merchant of Venice and Taming of the Shrew.

A phrase I use far too often...

"That was below the belt and above the knees."

I wish people would take more notice of...

The troubles in Sri Lanka. However, I don't think it would be politic for me to say any more than that.

The most surprising thing that happened to me...

Was getting to carry the Olympic torch.

A common misperception of me is...

That I'm Indian. I'm actually Sri Lankan-Tamil, but I was born in London.

I am not a politician but...

I think we should take more responsibility for the environment.

I'm good at...

Making people feel welcome.

I'm very bad at...

Recycling and taking responsibility for the environment.

The ideal night out is...

Either going to the theatre followed by dinner with friends, or performing on stage.

In moments of weakness I ...

Eat lots of everything, especially chocolate.

You know me as an actress but in truer life I'd have been...

An actress definitely. I'm in heaven. The RSC is a life-long ambition.

The best age to be is...

The age you are.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:

Anything is possible. Don't underestimate yourself or your capacity.

Anna Hoyles