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

I could stay making nice safe BBC movies for the rest of my life, so I decided to risk it. It was a challenge, to work with Oliver Stone.

Life's too short to deal with other people's insecurities.

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.

I think the healthy way to live is to make friends with the beast inside oneself, and that means not the beast but the shadow. The dark side of one's nature. Have fun with it and you know, is to accept everything about ourselves.

I just learn my lines, go on set. Do my preparation, whatever that is. Have a cup of coffee. Say hello to everyone. And be friendly. "Action" - and then do it.

Danger is the spice of life and you’ve got to take a risk now and then…that’s what makes life worthwhile.