There are some amazing stories from all over this country, where people's work and contribution has been acknowledged. To be part of that is an absolutely fantastic feeling.

As soon as someone I don’t respect tells me I can’t do something, it just makes me want to do it even more.

Helena Bonham-Carter and I sat down to talk about [Cinderella movie] and she said, 'I really want to do it but only one thing I insist on and that's wings.' She had to have wings and [costume designer] Sandy Powell didn't want wings to begin with but had to be talked around, but that was fun.

I don't think Hamlet is mad, nor is he predisposed to be a gloomy or tragic figure.

The ferocity of passion that is engendered by people when they don't like what you've done is really tremendous. It's intense.

My definition of success is control.

Don’t stand up when you can sit down and don’t sit down when you can lie down.