I don't meet stockbrokers or carpenters or coal miners; I spend all day with actors, composers and photographers.

Alfie was the first time I was above the title; the first time I became a star in America.

I am a great admirer of other actors, but I never compete with other actors. I always compete with what I did last, and I'm my own most vicious critic. So I'm always trying to do it better.

I don't want to sound like Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells, but I do think there should be some sort of national service for young men.

The best research for playing a drunk is being a British actor for 20 years.

What it is is that comedy is underrepresented in every actor's life, because it's so bloody difficult to write. Anyone can write, and then you leave it to special effects to make it look good. But comedy, you've got to do some writing.

A man's body may grow old, but inside his spirit can still be as young and as restless as ever.