I went into the family business. To me, it was the norm and not the exception.

I am a greedy actor in the sense that I like the big bites. Put a big fat steak in front of me, and I will eat it.

When you look at me you don't immediately imagine a very very glamorous icon, so it's only in the theater that I get to do these experiments. I've been an actor about 51 years now. I've played everything from an 8-year-old black boy to a 72-year-old French matriarch, and they hardly hire you to do that on TV.

I'm not glamorous, I don't have a look, I don't know anything about opera, I have no Italian, and I'm too old.

Sweat makes good friendship cement.

The director's job is full of all sorts of annoyances and details - like how many cars are on the street. Ugh. I don't want it. I like my gig. And I feel that for the next 30 years or so I can keep learning more about it.

I'm interested in playing old ladies because I am becoming one. And I want to become a very good one!