Well, you cannot think of cinema now, and you cannot think of cinema in the UK and not place Chaplin in the most extraordinary elevated context, if there can be such a thing, in that he was a genius, he was unique.

I passionately believe in heroes, but I think the world has changed its criteria in determining who it describes as a hero.

I do not have a brain that I long for in dealing with matters of which I am ignorant, that don't come within my ken and a rationale, a reason, and argument and so on, and I can't do that and I'm not in that bracket at all.

I want to be remembered as a storyteller.

And that is how I employ my time in cinema, saying things about people who I think have touched us in terms of our value judgement and by example.

Well, you cannot think of cinema now, and you cannot think of cinema in the UK and not place Chaplin in the most extraordinary elevated context, if there can be such a thing, in that he was a genius, he was unique.

I don't blame people for their mistakes, but I do ask that they pay for them.