I love people where, at the end of the day, they'll pick up a paintbrush and paint clouds. They can physically make things.

We had our British background of traditional theatre behind us.

A girl once came to my beery flat in Kensal Green, opened the blinds and cooked me breakfast. I married her.

I knew Richard E. Grant, and I went to him and said "Would you like to [play Kafka in the film]?" and he said yeah, and then suddenly I had all these people who were happy to come along. We got a little bit of money from Scottish Screen to pay for it. I got so many favors because I knew people in the business. I was in a remarkably good position. I got so many favors from people. I got the Monty Python technical people.

Chris Addison is a stand-up comic, but his ability to act is extraordinary, to be so natural, I've taken 25 years just getting to that level.

My family has to be very patient living with me, if you're playing a part that's not you. You have to get it right.

It's weathered many a storm, but the British film industry is, thankfully, still afloat.