In "The King's Speech," patriotism is utterly contained within a historical moment, the third of September, 1939, where the aggressor is clear, the fight is clear, it hasn't become complicated over time.

I mean, we've all had those dreams where, you know, we try to cry out and our voice won't come.

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

Sometimes your body language is enough for an actor to know that you're not happy. And you don't really need to say it out loud if you deal with actors you know very well. And I don't think you really need to be explicit.

The more uncompromisingly specific you are the more you end up touching the bigger universal truths.

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

Actors enjoy being treated as ordinary people.