I love women who have a strong sense of themselves because I know I have a pretty good idea of what I want out of life and I like to be around other people who are also pretty secure. It just makes things easier.

A star on a movie set is like a time bomb. That bomb has got to be defused so people can approach it without fear.

Human beings are always going to find interesting ways of making a mess of their lives. It's human nature.

Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?

I sort of understood that when I first started: that you shouldn't repeat a success. Very often you're going to, and maybe the first time you do, it works. And you love it. But then you're trapped.

It's the post-literate generation that is most disturbing to a movie-maker. The explosions and the knifings. People like to go to what's hot and you can't get past a certain gross unless you involve children who go more than once.

Always try in interviews to avoid the cliches about the problems of public life.