You know, this idea of going around the world imposing democracy by growing a middle-class, a trading merchant class that is independent of your faith, is a good notion, but we're all partially different - it's no good imposing systems on people that it doesn't suit.

Acting can be a narrow and isolated experience, because you only examine your particular part.

It's certainly true that I was brought up in that British amateur tradition, the one which always held that if you were reasonably good at cricket, knew one or two Latin texts and a few zingy Oscar Wilde quotes for dinner parties, you were pretty much ready to go and run some outpost in Hindustan.

I was, if you like, a successful schoolboy in that I had a degree of talent in all the required things that make you a success at school.

I think people like to be scared. I think people like tension and suspense in a movie.

I love going for a swim. Growing up in England, anywhere with a pool seems like the height of glamour to me.

I've done classical theaters. I played Hamlet myself and Romeo.