Given the events of even the 19th century, Zionism was inevitable. Given the events of the 20th century, Israel was inevitable.

When I was young I used to sit in the cinema thinking wouldn't it be great if you could have a film in which the characters were like real people instead of being like actors.

It creeps up on you and becomes an obsession. It comes out of watching a million movies.

I'm old enough to have friends and contemporaries who have long since retired, and that's their prerogative - enough is enough; it doesn't mean a thing to me. But I haven't got any money, so, you know, I just keep on working.

The way an actor is trained doesn't ultimately have much bearing on my work. I'm interested in the actor as artist.

The delineation between the actor and his part is a practical matter. When the camera runs, you want the actor to be the character.

I've long since stopped worrying about how I'm portrayed in the press because ultimately it's not that important. Everyone who knows me knows I do what I do with the greatest integrity.