I value my ability to keep state secrets.

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.

Patience and persistence are the keys... The keys to unlock doors of success... With these two virtues, you grow in reasoning and experience.

I can hear the roar of women's silence.

It's tough to get any film made, even if you're Martin Scorsese. It's just hard to get films made.

Ideas are a dime a dozen. People who execute them are not.

Back in 1994 there was no Judas Priest.

Put Smarties tubes on cats legs, make them walk like a robot.

I trust the [series] writers when I'm filming, because it's interesting for me to go in every week and see what's going to happen, and the challenge for me as the actor is to make it work.

A stout heart, a clear conscience, and never despair.

Life is weaker than Death and Death is weaker than Truth.

I think that as you get older, you become aware of everything that could go wrong.