Although the great frustration about this [role] is the fact that there's one thing Maigret never does, and that's drive. He's always driven, or he takes the train, or he gets the bus. I was saying 'Well, why don't we ring the changes for the 21st Century, and stick him in the car?'. [Executive Producer and son of the author, John Simenon] said, 'Well, you can if you want, but there'll be lots of people who won't like it'. So he's a non-driver ... But no, Top Gear was never a consideration for me; and neither was I asked

My personal problem is that I take the business of film-making so seriously that I find it very difficult to relax.

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

[Georges] Simenon could be very brave like that. You never quite know what you're going to get or how the story's going to be told.

But I always feel that whatever I do, I could do better. I suppose it is perfectionism.

I have always worried about things more than I should.

I'm sure that a French production of this [Maigret series] would be different. For better or worse, who's to say, but probably not very good for 8 o'clock on ITV.