I wonder whether my bleak-o-meter is set differently from other people's. I have such passion for what I do that I can't see it as bleak. When people use that word, or “grim” or “gritty,” I just think, “Oh, come on, look a bit deeper.” My films don't give you an easy ride. I can see that. The sense I get is that people have quite a physical experience with them. They feel afterwards that they've really been through something.

I read loads. There's quite a lot of stuff online.

I grew up in a working-class family, so I guess you could say I write from what I know.

When your characters are really living they tell you what they do.

For me, making films is about trying to work something out by myself in quite a lonely way. I find the whole thing very lonely really.

I don't think you can question your instinct; you should always trust it.

I've always loved America.