I understand the joy of having a female actress like Charlotte [Gainsbourg] and watching her give everything, and be able to capture it.

I don't know why people keep banging on about the '60s. I was very conventional because I came from a conventional family and I didn't go off with different people - I rather wish I had now, seeing all the fun everyone else was having.

If you fall in love with a country and its people, that makes any country warm to you.

If I were mayor, I'd invite everyone to have free boat trips on the river and free balloon rides over the city. I'd let the elderly in residential homes wander free.

I grind my teeth and keep my thumbs in so tight that I've dislocated them, just not to scream. Sometimes as an actor one is lucky enough to be asked to scream.

Keep smiling - it takes 10 years off!

My mother was right: When you've got nothing left, all you can do is get into silk underwear and start reading Proust.