My father made sure that I had lots of levels of education – from ballroom-dancing to painting, commando training, theatre and magic.

One of my great all-time loves in cinema, and I've seen it three times, is Bondarchuk's 'War and Peace.' Not a lot of people may have seen that film. It was made during the Soviet era.

All good, clean stories are melodrama, it's just the set of devices that determines how you show or hide it.

The ugly duckling is a misunderstood universal myth. It's not about turning into a blonde Barbie doll or becoming what you dream of being; it's about self-revelation, becoming who you are.

I don't have fights with actors. In absolute honesty, I've never fought with any actor ever.

I grew up around jazz. I love jazz.

In this country, particularly, actually in times that are difficult, or from corners of America where you least expect it, unbelievable pure creativity has welled up. Generally because of the cross-fertilization... a Scott Joplin tune becomes jazz, becomes blues, and becomes rock 'n' roll.