I'd say that, to be a good deal maker, you have to have three basic characteristics - timing, timing, and timing.

I'd have described myself as a Tolkien reader before this, but now I'd describe myself as a Tolkien geek.

I can't bear shopping. I can choose clothes for my characters, but not for myself. I've got no dress sense. Or I've lost it.

I never like to go out of character when filming starts. I fear that if I do, I might not be able to pick it up again.

Do people really think that about my nose? I spent my whole life hating it, so its amusing that people like it!

I have a bit of pride, which is always my downfall.

I think if I had come out of drama school and been an instant Hollywood superstar, I would be taking long, leisurely holidays.

I'm not interested in building wealth, which is kind of naive and probably frowned on, living in America. It's something that people don't necessarily understand, but if I die poor, I die poor.

Whatever I lack in talent I have in stamina.

I love being grungy and dirty.

The problem with me is I read everything, but it's only the bad stuff that stays with me. It's weird, you only need to be told something once and it stays with you.

It's not about how long you can live, it's about how long you can forget and forgive.

Miracles are happening every moment. You just have to be ready to see them.

A house takes on the character of its inhabitants

The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it.

Who had deceived thee so often as thyself?

I never knew how soothing trees are-many trees and patches of open sunlight, and tree presences; it is almost like having another being.

L.A. is still such a fascinating place to me, so big and diverse. It's so spread out that you can go from Zuma to downtown and there's really like 10 different towns in between.

A fondness for reading, which, properly directed, must be an education in itself.

Every change is a form of liberation. My mother used to say a change is always good even if it's for the worse.

There is always hazard in military activity, but we must decide between the positive loss of inactivity and the risk of action.