In my defence I can only say that her past, too, like mine, like everyone's in fact, was a locked box. Occasionally we allow people a peep, but generally only at the top level. The darker streams of our memories we negotiate alone.

I think Americans are wonderful film actors - the best in the world - but they are a very contemporary race and they look forward all the time.

My own belief is that most people are trying to do their best. It doesn't mean they have no nasty side, or that they don't have a bad temper, or that they have never done anything they feel ashamed of. But fiction operates on people waking up trying to be horrible, and I don't think most people are trying to be horrible.

We live a life that is often spent in crowds - parties, festivals and first nights - so it's nice to avoid them.

Life is a game in which the player must appear ridiculous.

For most directors, the scriptwriter is about as welcome on set as a member of the Taliban.

If we don't respect the past, we'll find it harder to build a future.