Lighting can bring out certain contours in the body, in the face, in the eyes, that otherwise flat lighting couldn't.

The idea that boxing lends itself to cinema so well is because it's usually a morality play - good against evil, insecurity and triumph, fear strikes out, so the audience can really get drawn into the drama of it. Also, it was sensual and very primal. I think subliminaly we do two things - life is a fight, life is a struggle and we understand that from our early, early, early ancestors, and life is a race.

A lot of actors, and artists in general, never feel secure in love. They always feel everything's going to be taken away from them, professionally and personally; they're extremely emotional and volatile.

There aren't a lot of opportunities for that rite of passage that makes you a man. War is one of them, and violent sports are another.

I consider myself something of a raconteur. I have a rather audacious sense of humour.

You are what you leave behind.

Artists die twice. First creatively. Then physically. The second one is the easiest.