In my day, the drug was alcohol and the weapon was a fist, so it was very sort of innocent and primitive. Now you've got drugs, guns, and knives, which are so lethal.

Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath.

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

My career is going better now than when I was younger. Now I get the part. Back then, I'd get the girl.

I usually control the environment I'm in, but my control is very quiet and subtle.

I think what is British about me is my feelings and awareness of others and their situations. English people are always known to be well mannered and cold but we are not cold - we don't interfere in your situation. If we are heartbroken, we don't scream in your face with tears - we go home and cry on our own.

If I work with a bad actor, my reaction is to immediately become worse than they are.