One of the things that is assumed about actors is that they are extrovert, which is almost never the case, in my experience.

I do think 3D has seriously improved, since I was a boy. It's fabulous.

One of my great regrets, and I don't have many, is that I spent too long putting people's status and reputation ahead of their more important qualities. I learned far too late in life that a long list of letters after someone's name is no guarantee of compassion, kindness, humour, all the far more relevant stuff.

When people warned me there would be long periods out of work if I became an actor, I couldn't keep a straight face because that was exactly what I had in mind.

A way of describing performances that I admire is that there is an absence of careerism. It's a clumsy way of describing it but it sort of does it for me.

I don't want to associate myself with any specific group of politicians.

I guess part of the hit-man appeal is the solitude. Everybody is lured to the idea of the solitary life.