One of the great injustices in fiction is that on the whole people with romantic yearnings have romantic faces. But in real life it's not always like that.

Sometimes you watch one of your favorite shows from 20 years ago and you think, 'I'm loving this, but golly, it's going at the speed of a snail.'

A lot of actors find it impossible not to ask for the audience's sympathy. They have a need to twinkle.

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.

Plenty of friendships are sustainable through dinners and lunches, but will not stand a week away. So be careful with whom you go on holiday.

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

I think every period - except for the 14th century, or something - has some merits.