One time in the late '50s, when Peter Finch, Laurence Harvey, and I were all offered the same movie role - the assumption being that we weren't friends - we marched up to producer Dino De Laurentiis's door and declared in unison, 'We don't think we're suitable for the part.'

Acting has been described as farting about in disguise.

There is a legend. And to protest is daft.

No one can take Jesus away from me.... There's no doubt there was a historical figure of tremendous importance, with enormous notions. Such as peace.

If you do not surrender, I shall be forced to shoot you through the head with a rather large bullet.

For me, life has either been a wake or a wedding.

You talk about auteur de cinema having things in their heads and putting them all across, can you imagine Shakespeare writing screenplays?