I think it's important that we have strong, female characters in movies now, which can really leave an impression on people - especially young people - and that they're not 'sexy' or 'cool'.

I think if my child died I would prefer it if I were dead.

Learning is the most important thing, no mater how you do it, or where you do it, or who you do it with.

The written word can be powerful and beautiful - but films transport us to another place in a way that even the most evocative words never can.

I try as best as I can to have a normal life. People recognise you, of course, and that's very strange. But I sort of leave my working life behind when I go home. That's my other world.

Everyone thinks I'm ethereal. But I'm not like that, you know. I'm not ethereal. Well, I might have a little bit of that quality to me, that 'old soul' thing, but I'm not ethereal.

If you don't have eyebrows, you don't really have a face.

The 1916 uprising was kind of the most important rebellion in Ireland's fight for independence that had been going on for 700 years. So it's a very important moment in history for us.

I've never really felt like I was a child actor. Just an actor who happened to be quite young.

My name means freedom in Irish.

It's too distracting to read about yourself. You want to be perfect and you want everyone to love you, and that's never going to happen.

Writing a book is a blood sport. If it doesn't hurt when you're done, you're probably doing something wrong.

We suffered for our art. You have to suffer for our art as well!

Every breath you take is a step forward toward death. (Hazrat Ali-As)

I always told my team two things: Never expect them to give you anything and always expect them to make the next shot.

All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys.

The pressed oil of words can blaze up into music, into image, into the heart and mind's knowledge. The lit and shadowed places within us can be warmed.

I think it's best to date someone who doesn't do what you do.

Before you can win, you have to believe you are worthy.

I'm a perfect example of the grumpy, old man. I'm really good at it.

Part of the issue around communal land, which became a matter of controversy, is that we are saying that this land must go back to communities. Not chiefs and traditional leaders.