After directing the first film it feels kind of tricky being back to being in front of the camera, because I've always got one eye over there, kind of thinking of what they are doing, and how the shot is being composed. I think it takes a couple of films to just get back to just being an actor.

Every punch that's thrown is mine. Every punch that's caught, I catch.

When we shot "Cry Freedom," I wasn't even allowed in South Africa. They told me I could come but I wasn't going to leave. I had heavy death threats at that time. So we shot in Zimbabwe. In 1995, I had the privilege and the honor to meet Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela the same day: I had breakfast with Desmond Tutu and lunch with Nelson Mandela. Then I had the good fortune to have Mr. Mandela actually come to my house in California. There's been a tremendous amount of change.

Raising the standard of the work, not complaining about somebody not voting.

You can’t break me because you didn’t make me.

I still have my unemployment books and I remember when I worked for the sanitation department and the post office.

I don't concern myself with award. I'd been to the party enough times to know it really didn't matter.