People think because I can make them laugh on the stage, I'll be able to make them laugh in person. That isn't the case at all. I am essentially a rather quiet, dull person who just happens to be a performer.

I think you're bound to get a sense of any character that you play. It's not something you often do in comedy.

And, we put a lot more value, or at least I personally put a lot more value, on the creative values and creative challenges of something than the commercial necessities.

[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.

Look, if I'd wanted a lecture on the rights of man, I'd have gone to bed with Martin Luther.

When I was doing Bean more than I’ve done him in the last few years, I did strange things - like appearing on chat shows in character as Mr. Bean.

Of course, some would say if you have a performing inclination, then you should become a lawyer. That's a platform we use, or a priest. You know, anywhere you lecture and pontificate to people.