It's Sir Ben. I've not been a Mister for two years.

I do remember, as a child, that I always imagined, when I was maybe 6 or 7, my fantasy was that everywhere I went I was being followed by an invisible film crew.

I'm so dependent on reacting to the other actors on the set, and to the director. I'm very responsive. I react. And I treasure the energy that reaction gives.

As a singer, I might have fallen among thieves. I wonder if I'd still be alive by now.

I try and reduce myself to an almost blank slate and hope to God that I am creative.

I do believe female directors, as well as our female writer, can bring out male vulnerability that some men can't because they can't face it.

You can throw away the privilege of acting, but that would be such a shame. The tribe has elected you to tell its story. You are the shaman/healer, that's what the storyteller is, and I think it's important for actors to appreciate that. Too often actors think it's all about them, when in reality it's all about the audience being able to recognize themselves in you. The more you pull away from the public, the less power you have on screen.