United Kingdom, March 10 -- Andrew Scott credits acting for helping him overcome a speech impediment.

The 'All of Us Strangers' actor had a "strong lisp" as a child, so benefitted from elocution lessons, and also found performing gave him the confidence boost he needed at a time when he was very self-conscious.

He told The Times magazine: "I had a speech impediment as a child and acting helped me be less self-conscious and shy.

"I had a strong lisp and in elocution lessons I practised improvisation and verbalising phrases like, 'She sells seashells on the seashore.'

"I still find acting helpful."

When he isn't working, the 48-year-old star takes pleasure in painting.

He said: "I love painting people, and my mother [who was an art te...