One of the things I've realised is that I am very simple. My wife asked me once if I loved her. I said: 'Look love, I'm a simple man. I love you. End of story.' But I guess you gotta keep saying it with women. I guess she needed reassurance.

I'd say I am partial to women.

Before Michael Caine you had to have been in the RAF to be an actor.

I'm Winnie the Pooh - that's as sexy as I am. I meet ladies and they talk about their family and I talk about my family. It's about as sexy as a bag of Brussel sprouts.

If you are going to do a film properly you have to give yourself completely to it.

I'm very romantic. I've emptied flower shops.

I've played so many historical characters because most horrible dictators are short, fat, middle-aged men.