I think the thing to do is enjoy the ride while you're on it.

I don't do well with modern films, to be honest. Opening credits, and I'm just gone.

An actor shouldn't have to leave the set and go home and write a bunch of stuff for a bunch of other people, the next day. I found it very unpleasant.

I love the idea of changing my look. I think one owes it to the audience, to go out there and give them something different each time, so as not to bore them to death.

What happens to me when I read a script, when something grabs hold of me, I start getting these flashes of people or places or things or images.

When you take on the idea of playing someone like Jimmy Bulger, it's a radically different process because you're going into make-up. The only way you can do it is to come out of make-up looking like the guy. If you don't look like the guy, it's going to bug you, all day.

I literally went from being unable to play my rent to being on a plane the next day, being paid peanuts.