Japanese women have always loved my films, even when no one else did. Ever since I made 'Maurice' in the 1980s, I've been getting hundreds of letter from Japanese girls. They definitely have a special place in my heart.

My grandmother was utterly convinced I'd wind up as the Archbishop of Canterbury. And, to be honest, I've never entirely ruled it out.

I play the sort of character who would sell his grandmother for career advancement, something I've come across a lot with actors.

I don't have any particular burning desire to go back to being cuddly. Not really.

And I particularly like the whole thing of being boss. Boss and employee... It's the slave quality that I find very alluring.

My dad used to have to open the second bottle of wine in the loo in case Mum heard the cork coming out.

I cling to the fantasy that I could have done something more creative. Like actually writing a script, or writing a book. But the awful truth is that I... probably can't!