I don't make much distinction between being a stand-up comic and acting Shakespeare - in fact, unless you're a good comedian, you're never going to be able to play Hamlet properly.

Try and understand what part you have to play in the world in which you live. There's more to life than you know and it's all happening out there. Discover what part you can play and then go for it.

I often thought my gravestone would say, 'Here lies Gandalf. He came out,'

Acting is a very personal process. It has to do with expressing your own personality, and discovering the character you're playing through your own experience - so we're all different.

To know you are in the company with people who love and care for each other, as well as for whatever they are working on, is almost essential.

I’ve often thought the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying this is fiction.

You can always pick out stage actors at the Oscars: they know how to walk.

We are very lucky to be men because women have a terrible time getting older parts. It's much more difficult.

Personally, coming out was one of the most important things I've ever done, lifting from my shoulders the millstone of lies that I hadn't even realized I was carrying.

When you were on stage, you could be absolutely open about your emotions and indulge them and express yourself in a way that - in real life - I wasn't doing.

Splendid architecture, the love of your life, an old friend... they can all go drifting by unseen if youre not careful.

One day I asked God to move the mountain ahead of me, but he said no because he wanted me to experience the joy of being on a mountain top.

...when the pain subsides the grief remains.

Battle is an orgy of disorder.

The art of art is simplicity.

What must be remembered in any case is that secret complicity that joins the logical and the everyday to the tragic.

It's not fair, but it's not entirely wrong to presume that the more capable people will come from the better brand.

The impossible is justified by the fact that it occurred

For the most part I stand by all of records. I just always like the one I've done most recently the best and I think that's the whole point.

Rules are invented for lazy people who don't want to think for themselves.

The only thing history teaches us, a wise man once said, is that history doesn’t teach us anything.