I tend to discourage people from calling me 'Sir Ian,' because I don't like being separated out from the rest of the population. Of course, it can be useful if you're writing an official letter, like trying to get a visa or something passed through Parliament. They're impressed by these things.

Splendid architecture, the love of your life, an old friend... they can all go drifting by unseen if youre not careful.

No one needs to feel sorry for me or anyone else who has fallen victim to success.

I have been reluctant to lobby on other issues I most care about - nuclear weapons (against), religion (atheist), capital punishment (anti), AIDS (fund-raiser) because I don't want to be forever spouting, diluting the impact of addressing my most urgent concern - legal and social equality for gay people worldwide.

That's the imagination that happens in the theater. That imagination is translated in film by the film magicians and all the technology.

The performance is created by the director. The actor is the material. And I think that has to be true.

If you're sounding right, you're probably walking right, and vice versa. If you get the footwork right - if you get even one line right in a rehearsal, the director will say, do you know when you said that, it was exactly the character. You were - really landed on it.