Carey Mulligan returned to theatre because of the lack of brilliant female roles in film.
The 28-year-old actress is returning to London's West End after a seven-year hiatus to star alongside Bill Nighy in a revival of playwright David Hare's 'Skylight' and she admits it's because she couldn't pass up the chance to take on the lead.
She said: "There are so few brilliantly written female characters out there and she's such a great opportunity."
Since her last theatre appearance in 'The Seagull' in 2007, the 'Inside Llewyn Davis' actress has won numerous awards for her roles in films such as 'An Education' and 'Never Let Me Go', but she's confessed the storyline of 'Skylight' persuaded her to return to the stage.
She explained: "I was drawn to the intimacy of it, and how it was so focused on one conversation and how two people who have history both see the same event.
"The challenge of filling that stage for one and a half hours, going head to head with one actor and of having to find new experiences with the same material night after night and figure out more stuff about it. It's very exciting."
However, as Mulligan has also been busy working on her new film 'Suffragette' alongside Meryl Streep, she's confessed she hasn't had time to stress over her return to the stage.
She added to Britain's Vogue magazine: "I've been so wrapped up in the film I haven't really thought about 'Skylight', which is probably a good thing because I haven't been worrying about it."

Kate Upton knew she'd become a megastar when she gained female fans.
The Sports Illustrated model has become a household name following cover shoots for the magazine and a role in recently-released comedy 'The Other Woman' and she admits she knew she'd really made it when she started to gained female followers as well as male ones.
When asked to pinpoint the exact moment she became a megastar, she said: "I think it was kind of how everything was placed at once, in a weird way.
"I had Sports Illustrated and that next year I worked with Vogue and it was really just the placement of things. One year I had a lot of male followers, and the next, women followers and fans. I didn't have a say in it - that was just how it went."
The 21-year-old star faced disapproval from figures within the fashion industry for being "too curvy", but admits now that she's overcome the criticism she feels at home in her job.
She told Britain's Vogue magazine: "Once you're in the fashion crowd, it's almost like a family. They're so loyal and so supportive, and I talk to most of those people on a daily basis."

Mila Kunis is reportedly struggling with morning sickness.
The 30-year-old actress is said to be pregnant with her first child with her boyfriend, and rumoured fiancé, Ashton Kutcher, and although she's struggling with nausea, he's said to be helping her through.
A source said: "Mila's been suffering from morning sickness and is feeling exhausted, but she says Ashton has been her rock. He's been cooking her breakfast in bed. He's even hired a masseuse to give her daily massages and, at night, he rests his head beside her bump and talks to the baby."
Reports have suggested that the 'Friends with Benefits' star is expecting a baby girl with Ashton - who she first met on the set of 'That 70s Show' in 1998 -and although she's struggling with the side effects of pregnancy she's said to be happier than ever.
The source told Britain's Closer magazine: "Mila's so excited to be a mum, she's telling friends her and Ashton are more in love than ever."
The Hollywood couple are also reportedly looking forward to expanding their brood once their first baby is born.
The source added: "Ashton can't wait to be a dad; he's always wanted children. Mila wants at least four and he's keen too."

Rita Ora was "scared" when she met Beyonce.
The 23-year-old singer - who signed with Jay Z's Roc Nation in 2009, the same year she made a cameo on the rapper's 'Young Forever' video - was thrilled to finally meet her label boss' wife and insists she was more amazing than she'd anticipated.
She told Heat magazine: "Oh my gosh, I was so scared. She's like the idol I've always wanted to meet. I always thought she wasn't human and that she just plugged herself into a socket at night and sleeps standing up, or something. But she was incredible - so kind, so honest, so caring and so approachable."
Rita has landed her big Hollywood break with a role in the most-anticipated film of the moment, the adaptation of kinky bestseller 'Fifty Shades of Grey', in which she plays S&M-loving billionaire Christian Grey's little sister Mia.
However, the platinum blonde bombshell recently insisted things weren't hot and heavy on set because leading actor Jamie Dornan is such a down-to-earth family man.
She said: "No, it was incredible, cause his wife was there and he just had a kid so it was a very family orientated kind of thing, obviously when it's on set the kid stays at home."

Binky Felstead claims she suffered "horrific" bullying at school.
The 'Made In Chelsea' star - who was educated at Dallington School, Taunton School and Millfield in Somerset - reveals her life was made miserable by her childhood tormentors in her new autobiography 'Being Binky' but she was able to beat them and eventually get the "last laugh" with her TV fame.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz, she said: "In the book I try and educate people on how to deal with bullies at school - because I went through that when I was growing up and it was very difficult. I'm basically saying speak out about it, don't try to keep it all in because it will end up torturing you, and you do get through it in the long run. The bullies at school were horrific but they've all messaged me now and I've got the last laugh."
Binky managed to cope with her bullying with the support of her mother and the help of a counsellor, and she hopes her book will be able to help any teenagers dealing with the same problem.
She added: "The book is all from personal experience, from how I got through it ... I would have liked to have read my book if I was going through what I was going through at a young age because I didn't realise bullying was mainly to do with jealousy, and I didn't realise it was OK to speak to a counsellor that young because not many people my age did. It's incredibly important to be able to vent to someone, and if you can't do that with your mum, you should think about speaking to someone professional. I'm lucky that I have a great relationship with my mum."
Binky will be at Waterstone's, Bluewater on Saturday May 10 at 4:30pm signing copies of her new book 'Being Binky', which is available through Simon & Schuster.

Chris Brown has been sentenced to 131 days in prison. The 24-year-old singer has been forced to spend just over four months behind bars after he admitted in a Los Angeles court today (09.05.14) that he violated his probation by getting into a fight in...

Jordin Sparks admires her mother's "inner strength".
The 24-year-old singer, who has been dating Jason Derulo for just over three years, admits she looks up to her mum Jodi Jackson because she's an inspiration to her.
Speaking to PEOPLE.com, she said: "It's her inner strength and courage. When I was about 12, she told me not to lock my bedroom door. But I did. What did she do? She took my door completely off! It wasn't like she said, 'You're in trouble,' it was, 'You have no door for six months!'"
The 'Battlefield' hitmaker - who shot to fame after winning 'American Idol' when she was just 17 - insists it was her mum who encouraged her to pursue a career in singing.
She explained: "We were watching 'American Idol', and I said, 'I want to do that.' And she said, 'We will do whatever it takes.'"
Meanwhile, Jordin, who also works out with Jodi, has recently lost 50lbs after deciding she needed to make changes to her lifestyle in order to improve her health.
She said previously: "I had gotten really sick. And I was about to celebrate my birthday and I was like, 'I should be in the prime of my life right now. I shouldn't be feeling like this. I really need to make my health a priority'."

Elizabeth Olsen isn't thinking about having children yet.
The 25-year-old actress is planning to get married to her fiancé Boyd Holbrook, 32, in the near future, but she insists starting a family isn't on her mind at the moment.
She told E! News: "I'm not really thinking about kids. I think, like, you just take it one step at a time in your life, I guess. I love working with kids in films. It keeps you on your toes in such a way that you can't expect anything from them and you have to have patience and be creative."
Meanwhile, the brunette beauty, who got engaged to her beau in March, has been busy making arrangements for her big day and creating "fun" plans.
She said previously: I'm relaxed about it [the wedding], but I am excited and planning ideas because it's fun - It's just like throwing a party to celebrate life. I love being in a relationship a lot."
Boyd reportedly popped the question just two weeks after Elizabeth's older sister Mary-Kate, 27, got engaged to her boyfriend Olivier Sarkozy, 44, but she insists she won't be having a double wedding with her sibling.
When asked if she and Mary-Kate were planning on having a joint ceremony, Elizabeth replied: "No, I just told her she gets to pick a date [for her wedding] first!"

Taylor Swift believes her friendship with Selena Gomez is the "longest" they've both ever had.
The 24-year-old singer insists she shares a special bond with the 'Come & Get It' hitmaker because they've both been thrown into the limelight at such a young age.
She told E! News: "It's been the longest one [friendship] I think either of us had really. When your life changes and you become thrust into this really strange whirlwind where what your life is is different from what other people think your life is. And your life is commented on and your life is written about and fictionalised and all that. Both of us have kind of stuck it out and hung in there through all the different changes we've gone through.
"Longevity is something you really can find very precious and rare in friendships."
The blonde beauty recently admitted that she only hangs around with genuine people - such as Selena and Emma Stone - because they help her stay grounded.
She said previously: "I don't want people around me telling me what they think I'd like to hear. I love being surrounded by friends who are brutally honest and genuine.
"[We talk about] everything, except our work! It's always about reconnecting with each other, talking about relationships, love and guys - all the basic things!"

Claudia Winkleman will replace Sir Bruce Forsyth on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
The BBC have confirmed the 42-year-old presenter will join Tess Daly as the host on the TV dancing competition after Bruce announced earlier this year he was stepping down after 11 series on the popular programme.
Claudia said: "I have loved 'Strictly' since the second it appeared on our screens and I am honoured and thrilled to now be part of the Saturday night team.
"Working alongside Tess is always fantastic and I can't wait to spend the weekends with her, our amazing dancers and the greatest judging panel on the planet. Sir Bruce is a living legend and we'll all miss him very much."
However, Bruce, 86, won't be hanging up his dancing shoes permanently as he will be reuniting with Tess for Children in Need and Christmas show specials.
Tess added: '"It's really exciting having two women host the show, and we are great mates so there'll be lots of fun to be had on and off the dance floor, and of course I'll look forward to being reunited with Brucie for the Children In Need and Christmas shows.''
Claudia was the hot favourite to replace Bruce after he announced his departure as she has been involved with 'Strictly' since 2004 when she fronted 'Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two' to coincide with the second series of the main show.
In 2010, she also took over from Bruce as co-host of the Sunday night results show.

Diane Keaton used to consume up to 20,000 calories a day when she was battling with bulimia.
The 68-year-old actress, who suffered with an eating disorder in her twenties, admits she would snack on calorific treats and the make herself vomit and, although she no longer makes herself regurgitate food, she believes she will always be an "addict in recovery".
Speaking on 'The Dr Oz Show', she said: "It was, of course, the lowest point of my life ... I was a fat person, I was an obese person, who had somehow tricked myself and managed to hide it. So when you're living with a lie for four years ... all I did was feed my hunger, so I am an addict. It's true. I'm an addict in recovery, I'll always be an addict. I have an addictive nature to me."
However, the blonde beauty insists she's no longer addicted to food and has switched her attention to her adopted children Duke, 13, and Dexter, 18.
She added: "Now it's [my addiction is] work orientated or trying to raise my children as best I can, even though they're teenagers and not really children anymore.
"But really, I identify with those people [bulimics] and I feel for them."

Kate Hudson doesn't dress for Matt Bellamy's approval.
The 35-year-old actress admits she likes to look nice for herself and her girlfriends, rather than for the Muse frontman, whom she has been dating for four years.
Speaking to E! News, she explained: "Matt's not fussy. Matt likes feminine. Sometimes I'll come out in something low cut and tight, but if I come out in like a flowy dress, Matt likes that. But I don't dress for Matt! I dress for my girlfriends! I dress for me and my girlfriends.
"Girls dress for each other, don't we? Guys don't really care what we wear and they don't get it."
Meanwhile, the blonde beauty, who has been engaged to Matt for three years, recently admitted she would like to get married "sooner rather than later".
She said: "We still don't have any plans to get married, but eventually we will... probably sooner rather than later."
However, Kate - who has 10-year-old son Ryder from her marriage to Chris Robinson and two-year-old son Bingham with Matt - has already ruled out this summer for kick-starting her wedding plans because both she and her beau are too busy with their globe-trotting careers at the moment.
She said: "We got a busy summer. We're really looking forward to it. I'm shooting a movie and so you know, we're doing a bunch this summer."