Childhood didn't have a big influence on me, really - in fact I spent most of it plotting how to escape.

I'd like to direct more operas.

Jesus is absolutely at the centre of Western civilisation and part of my fascination with him is, why? What is it about this particular man and his story?

Artists probably should have some impenetrable aspects of themselves.

Shakespeare speaks for the human heart but Dickens speaks for the social man and for injustices.

Very often my weekends are spent performing on Saturday, on stage in the afternoon and again in the evening.

Increasingly I've come to think that what's at the core of acting is thinking. Most people would say it's feeling.