Mr. Bean is at his best when he is not using words, but I am equally at home in both verbal and nonverbal expression.

Certainly in the second film [Maigret's Dead Man], which is quite a more unpleasant and darker story, it's quite different in tone and feel.

I'm more critical of the films I make than anyone else.

Having spent a substantial part of my career parodying religious figures from my own Christian background, I am aghast at the notion that it could, in effect, be made illegal to imply ridicule of a religion or to lampoon religious figures.

I don't think you should be too absolutist about what you play and what you don't play.

I mean I can do it when I'm very relaxed, and with good friends, then I think I can be amusing.

Without wanting to claim that I'm really like James Bond I would certainly prefer to be thought of as closer to James Bond than Mr. Bean most definitely.