Les Miserables is a worldwide phenomenon, have you always been a fan?
The biggest fan! I was 11 when I first saw it and became obsessed immediately. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that they could make a movie - especially in my lifetime - so its a big deal.
Did taking on the role of Cosette feel like a lot of pressure?
Im lucky - I play the character thats the source of love and hope in this deeply tragic story. The responsibility that I had was just to get the audience to fall in love with her, and believe the love that Fantine (Anne Hathaway), Valjean (Hugh Jackman) and Marius (Eddie Redmayne) have for her.
What was it like working with Eddie Redmayne?
Eddie is just a really, really good English man. Hes sensitive, open, incredibly self-deprecating and really talented too. You just want to hug him, hes the ideal co-star.
Is it a real challenge and a bit weird - singing everything instead of speaking?
Singing for me is usually super fun. But I quit singing operas when I was 17 and getting back into classical training again eight years later - relearning the tricks of how to work this instrument - oh my god, its hard! The discipline of not having alcohol and not eating certain things that would clog my voice but having to drown myself in water and constantly exercise my voice - its a lot! Like living like a monk. But it was really rewarding - you reach a new level of emotion when youre expressing how you feel to another character.
Since staring in Mamma Mia do you still listen to Abba?
It always peps me up when I listen to it but I did have to quit Abba for a while after Mama Mia. For for some reason I just don't have to quit the Les Mis music though, its never going to get old.
Les Miserables opens in UK cinemas today
