The problem with the British film industry is the nervousness and insecurity about - and genuflection toward - Los Angeles.

My work requires acting at its most committed - it demands actors of enormous resilience, but also intelligence and wit. It doesn't work for narcissistic or selfish actors.

I've walked out of films. But for every film I've ever walked out of, I've probably walked out of 500 plays.

Very occasionally I hire an actor and get it wrong. The actor just doesn't trust the process or me as fully as I thought they would. In this case, you can be quite sure that if an actor is untrusting, it's got nothing to do with me or the process.

My job apart from anything else is to build an ensemble composed of actors who all come from a secure place so that they can all work together to make the film.

I am very happy to be part of European and world cinema as a British filmmaker.

Given the choice of Hollywood or poking steel pins in my eyes, I'd prefer steel pins.