It wasn't on my agenda, but the thing about getting important awards is it makes the adventure of your career have a little more possibility. I think just what's happened so far is already making the opportunities more interesting, even though I'm at the twilight of my career of like 48 years.

I usually do get to play the very sweet, charming roles... but I'm not an obvious kind of villain.

It's one of the functions of the theater to shock and titillate and appall, apart from entertain and delight.

It's a very generous culture, American culture. I know you can't generalize 300 million people, but everyone I've met here has been so lovely to me.

I'm in fact Australian but my mother's English so I've got no problem playing a domineering English woman.

To be embraced by Hollywood when I'd been acting professionally for almost 50 years seemed unbelievable. I've been so welcomed in such a warm, generous way - it seemed crazy not to take advantage of it. I hope for another 20 years where I can still keep going.

I do have friends in Australia who now refer to me as 'Hollywood Jack.'