I decided to be a filmmaker when I was 12. I had utter clarity that this would be my life.

There's something about being cerebral, intellectual, and yet emotionally repressed [in being villain]. If you think someone's doing this [bad] stuff and they're in complete control, that's more scary than if they're out of control.

I would say L.A. is more polite than London - it's a very careful place. People talk a lot in code.

A British villain never loses their sense of humour.

Thank you to my wonderful actors, the triangle of man-love which is Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and me.

I think I would say 'The King's Speech' is surprisingly funny, in fact the audiences in London, Toronto, LA, New York commented there's more laughter in this film than in most comedies, while it is also a moving tear-jerker with an uplifting ending.

I think directors can become overly infatuated by gilt and gold, and the word "lavish" and everything being magnificent.