You can't really go back to where you came from. I don't think any of us can.

Be kind. It's worthwhile to make an effort to learn about other people and figure out what you might have in common with them.

I like the detail work of telling a story in small pieces, as is done in movie-making, and also the long leap of faith needed to see a theatre performance through each night. Both require focus and self-discipline.

I trust Hillary Clinton about as far as I could throw Donald Trump.

Sometimes a scene works and acting is the easiest thing in the world and you don't have to do much of anything - just enjoy yourself and listen to the other actor. When it doesn't work, then every actor has different ways of dealing with the impasse. Sometimes you use memories from the past. Whatever. It depends from job to job.

As [John] Tolkien himself said, the story [Lord of the Ring ] is not allegorical. He said so when people tried to make analogies to World War II and the fight against Hitler and his fascist coalition.

I'm an optimist; I always hope that each new script is going to be a great story.