I had a great start in television; the first thing I did was an episode of Performance called The Entertainer with Michael Gambon playing Archie Rice.

I've often sat down with people talking about a film I've been in, and they haven't realized I was in it.

I love London, and it's a privilege for my children to grow up here.

People are not considerate of others. They tend not to consider themselves as all living together, but see themselves only as individuals.

If you're constantly frightened of being unhappy, how bloody exhausting must that be?

America is such a nation of suppressed emotion, and when you arrive in L.A., you can smell the fear. It's the most alien country I've ever been to.

People who are exceptionally intelligent are often lonely because there are few people as intelligent as them. I have two little children and everyone says: 'I hope they're doing well in school. I hope they're bright.' And I think: why would anyone want their children to be the brightest? Academia is a lonely world.