The point about a great story is that it's got a beginning, a middle and end.

I'm still living the life where you get home and open the fridge and there's half a pot of yogurt and a half a can of flat Coca-Cola.

When I am asked about influences, I always say I bow down to Fred Astaire, because when you look at him dancing you never look at his extremities, do you? You look at his centre. What you never see is the hours of work that went into the routines, you just see the breathtaking spirit and freedom.

The difference between being an actor and a director is simple. The director has to hide his panic; the actor doesn't.

The audience should feel like voyeurs. Their response is absolutely crucial.

On film you put all your energies into a single glance.

I mean, language fascinates me anyway, and different words have different energies and you can change the whole drive of a sentence.