There are two things that create opportunities. One is being involved with something that makes money, and the other is winning awards. And the reason that winning the awards creates the opportunities is because it gives the people who are selling the picture the opportunity to make more money.

I do better on the first three takes; I won't be better at 20 takes.

I felt as if I was the brunt of some massive joke at my expense: Can you believe this loser can be connected to Marlon Brando and Katharine Hepburn? But through the years I have learned to tolerate and sometimes embrace the idea. People have asked me if I consider it an honour. Well, all it indicates is that I've been in a lot of movies with a lot of people. And besides that there are plenty of other actors that would work.

If you're an actor, even a successful one, you're still waiting for the phone to ring.

After so many years it's embarrassing to admit that I don't honestly know how much I want to be directed.

There are people who tell you to shut up because you're just a celebrity, but pundits, talking heads, they're every bit the celebrity and a lot of them aren't any more qualified than the average man on the street.

The hardest gig there is in entertainment is to be the lead in an hour show, especially if it's a show that's blood and guts and fighting. It's rough. I love to work, but to do something different is really exciting.