I want to work with people who are good at what they do, and people who are passionate.

I was born William. My father was William. I came from a big family, I hated being called Billy. Willem's a nickname; it's a Dutch name, very common in the Netherlands.

The worst thing is to get involved with people who aren't passionate about what they're doing.

The English Patient' is about the coming together of a French-Canadian nurse, an English patient, a Sikh in a turban and me, Caravaggio, and each of us is seeking a resolution to our own problems.

Great theatre is about challenging how we think and encouraging us to fantasize about a world we aspire to.

I never act. I simply bring out the real animal that's in me.

Sometimes I think women are lucky because they can develop in ways men can't. The old-boy network may be oppressive to women, but it actually stunts men in terms of personal growth.

The mask can be a limitation, but you just deal with it. You do get superhuman strength and pumpkin bombs and all this other stuff to express yourself with.'

You have to lose yourself to find yourself.

Action breeds inspiration more than inspiration breeds action.

I guess they often cast me as the bad guy, because I'm not, er, conventional looking. I look sort of violent. I'm the odd one out, the outsider.

Hungry party-goers?! Diabolical!

I have a system with bathrooms. I spend a lot of time in them. They are sanctuaries, public places of peace spaced throughout the world for people like me.

Vanity plays lurid tricks with our memory.

I love you - I am at rest with you - I have come home.

It is possible that mankind is on the threshold of a golden age; but, if so, it will be necessary first to slay the dragon that guards the door, and this dragon is religion.

A duel, a duel, a duel. Is there anything more exciting, more romantic ... or more utterly moronic?

And I always tried to be not a star. To be someone who people like to talk to.

Above all, ascribe no decent motives to the federal government. Always and everywhere, it is the enemy of truth.

When you have elections in which 90% or 95% or 99% of those elected come from one party, then I think there is some fraudulent act.

Without deadlines and restrictions I just tend to become preoccupied with other things.