It would probably surprise people to know that I'm interested in wildlife. I read a lot of poetry, too.

I'm proud of Lord of the Rings. I think it's a once in a lifetime role, and a once in a lifetime film. It was made with so much care and passion and meticulous detail and everybody was so behind it.

Listen to people and treat people as you find them. There's an inherent goodness in most people. Don't pre-judge people - that was me Mam's advice anyway.

I sometimes find that playing the bad guy, or villains, or psychopaths tend to be much more psychologically rewarding. And you can really push it, you can push the limits, and get away with it.

If you have a very good concept of your character, you can snap into it.

My family thought the fascination with acting was just another fad.

Lord of the Rings was just so much enjoyment. It was over about the space of a year that I was filming. It's one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done, so emotional.

I'd been trying for a while to get parts that weren't just the English bad guy, so it was quite refreshing to be playing someone who was a compassionate, decent guy.

I'm still Sean that me mates went to school with, not Sean the film star. And that's the way I prefer to be.

It was such an interesting character and the film really explored his friendship with Bond and how it all went wrong, so it was a very personal journey for both characters.

To be honest, you have to do a big Hollywood film to get enough money to do a good independent film!

Overflowing thanksgiving

But when we find that one person who completes us, we don't give up. No matter how bad we screw up. We make it right.

Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.

It's always important for me as an actor to reflect human behavior for a sense of reality.

One thing that Chairman Mao did was to end the appalling foot binding of women. That alone justifies the Mao Tse-tung era.

When you become thoughtless, then you can see, feel Reality.

Making the big shot wouldn't feel so good if missing it didn't feel so awful

Choosing what you want to do, and when to do it, is an act of creation.

The wise form right judgment of the present from what is past.

It is by thoughtful reflection that the elusive moments of the past draw near to us in present reality and gain a measure of permanence.