I've always had good relationships with directors. I'm one of those people where, if there's a good idea coming from the sound guy, I'll take it. Filmmaking is a collaborative effort, whether it's a first-time director or it's Mike Nichols. I think that's the standard that the great ones set.

You don't ever see a thriller with a spiritual backbone.

For everybody that does something bad there's gotta be someone that does something good.

Mike Nicholls saw me in the musical of The Full Monty and brought me in to audition for Angels in America for HBO. And that opened a lot of doors because you could go to LA and say: "Well, I'm starring opposite Al Pacino and Meryl Streep..."

You have your vision and you need to be focused, but you have to listen. I never felt a sense that the wheels were going to come off because we're all friends and family. It was all good.

You have to know what you're shooting. Don't just make your movie in the editing room and just get everything you can on the day.

I try to shave at night so my skin has a chance to settle by the early morning call-time.