I wanted to be a musician but I didn't have the talent for it, so I decided I wanted to be famous, so I became an actor.

I just remember Kathy Bates getting on the stage and "The Oscar goes to Anthony Hopkins." I looked around, because I really thought Nick Nolte would get it. I really thought Nick would get it. I was very surprised. It was neck and neck with Nick Nolte and myself. So I really was expecting that to happen, and I went in there without any expectations.

I think doubt is a very healthy way to live.

You have to be pretty tough to be an actor, and you have to be pretty certain what you want. You can't waffle through this business.

And I love a scary movie. It makes your toes curl and it's not you going through it.

A conductor can't be too arrogant with an orchestra and try to impose himself too much.

We're just blades of grass, and when we go, we go, we never come back; one life . . . maybe that's true. But I tend to believe that this is not all there is. Because my life has been like a shadow of something deeper. And I've experienced that many times.