I have no illusions about my position in this world as an actor or anything like that. I'm very realistic. Reality is a very liberating thing.

I just wanted to be a composer; I became an actor by default, really. I got a scholarship to a college of music and drama, hoping to take a scholarship in music. But I ended up as an acting student, so I've stuck with that for the last 50-odd years.

I don't mind being a commodity. It's given me a good life.

I never make conscious decisions. If my agent says to me, "It's a good script," I'll do it. I don't plan. I've got a lot of things to do. I'm at the roulette table and my luck seems to be running at the moment. I might as well stay there until it runs out.

I think all those actors from that generation, like Bogart - they were wonderful actors. They didn't act. They just came on and they did it, and the characters were wonderful.

The reward is in the doing of it.

I am young! Being creative and keeping your brain occupied is very sensible because if you don't you die, slowly.