People have an idea that one is in control of a career, a lot more than you really are. You can engineer things to an extent. But you are at the mercy of what comes in across the desk.

When you play a character that is so emotionally closed there are times when you ask yourself if you are doing enough and if it's reading. That is where you have a director, who is the barometer of what you are doing.

And costume is so important for an actor. It absolutely helps to get into character; it's the closest thing to you, it touches you. Some actors like to go into make-up and then put their clothes on, but I like to dress first; that's my routine.

Political correctness has become a straightjacket.

To be able to do this job in the first place you've got to have a bit of an ego.

If one could have a wish, or an alternative life, I would've liked to have been John Lennon.

The book tells you everything you need to know. The book is the map of the world that you're in with the character.