People will now go to films with subtitles, you know. They're not afraid of them. It's one of the upsides of text-messaging and e-mail. Maybe the only good thing to come of it.

Successful films are very dangerous things.

It doesn't make you feel very good being mean and fierce; it is much nicer playing people who are kind and sweet.

It takes a long time to appreciate one's parents.

'The English Patient' was a huge turning point in my career and my life; it became this huge thing. But the whole Oscar build-up got completely out of control; I spent more time talking about that film than I spent making it!

I think people do work too much. I've never been able to understand the whole 'make hay while the sun shines' thing. Either I want to work or I don't want to work.

I like the idea that I'm making things that people might think and argue about.